The Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW) returned for its second edition from 25 to 28 October 2022, providing a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas and strategies toward building a vibrant agri-food ecosystem in Asia.
Hosted by Temasek, with support from the Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, and Singapore Food Agency, SIAW welcomed more than 6,000 attendees. Among them were world-leading agribusinesses, growers, food producers, consumer packaged goods and ingredient brands, entrepreneurs, investors, retailers and policymakers.
This year, SIAW was anchored by three key events: the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit, Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia 2022, and Roundtable on Novel Food Regulations. Held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands, these events spotlighted the latest innovations in supply chain resilience, urban food systems, sustainable proteins, and affordable nutrition.
According to Park Sung Bae, Associate Director of the Agri-Food Investment team at Temasek and member of the event’s steering committee, this year’s SIAW saw “record turnouts”. He said, “We're seeing a lot of companies, startups, investors, government agencies, as well as research institutes from all over the world, not just in Asia. One of the key themes for SIAW is food security and sustainability, and this was discussed during the gala dinner, which really set the tone for the rest of the week.”
The gala dinner was held on SIAW’s second day at the Gardens by the Bay’s elegant Flower Field Hall, and it was then that Singapore reiterated its commitment to tackling the issue of food security.
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Kiat, who was the Guest of Honour, said in his speech that an additional S$165 million will be invested in the Singapore Food Story R&D Programme. This step-up in investment supports Singapore’s 30 by 30 goal — to produce 30 per cent of the country’s nutritional needs locally by 2030 — and expresses Singapore’s belief in the value of the agri-food industry.
Another highlight of SIAW 2022 was the fifth edition of the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit. Over 1,100 delegates and 240 speakers from 37 countries gathered in Singapore and online for three days of high-level discussion, networking and deal-making, with the goal of scaling sustainable food production in the region.
The Summit, which spanned 41 panel sessions and presentations, 13 breakouts, and nine virtual roundtables, gave delegates a meaningful opportunity to share knowledge and create strong business connections.
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