Deep Dive Into Jane Lee

Thinking Question for Jane
English:
Singapore tried to solve its food shortage by building high-tech indoor farms, but many faced difficulties due to high energy costs and complex technology. If you were helping a city design a future food system, how would you strike a balance between high-tech indoor farming and natural, traditional agriculture? What simple yet creative idea do you think could help a small country secure its food supply sustainably?

summary:

The article argues that Singapore’s goal of producing 30% of its food locally by 2030 relied too heavily on expensive high-tech farms, many of which struggled with high costs and energy use. Instead of aiming for complete self-sufficiency, Singapore could improve food security by combining some local farming with diverse food imports from many countries. The main lesson is that food security is about having a reliable and flexible food supply, not necessarily producing everything domestically.

I would use a combination of high-tech indoor farming and natural, traditional agriculture instead of depending entirely on one system. High-tech farms can be useful for growing crops throughout the year, especially in places with limited land or unpredictable weather. However, they can require a lot of electricity, expensive equipment, and specialized workers. Traditional agriculture, on the other hand, can make use of sunlight, rainwater, healthy soil, and natural ecosystems with much less energy. A city could therefore use indoor farms for crops that are difficult to grow naturally or are especially important during emergencies, while using community gardens, rooftop farms, and outdoor farms for crops that can grow well in the local climate. This would create a food system that benefits from technology without becoming completely dependent on it.

One simple but creative idea for a small country would be to turn unused urban spaces into small “food zones.” Empty rooftops, school gardens, balconies, and unused areas around buildings could be used to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Schools and communities could even take responsibility for small gardens and share the harvest locally. Technology could be added in simple ways, such as using sensors to reduce water waste or collecting rainwater for irrigation, rather than building expensive fully automated farms. The country could also keep a small number of high-tech farms as a backup food source for emergencies. By combining many small natural farms with a limited number of carefully chosen high-tech farms, a small country could produce more of its own food, reduce energy use, and create a food system that is both innovative and sustainable.