World’s tallest indoor vertical farm opens as Singapore’s agri-tech sector faces pressure
At a time when many high-tech farms are shutting down, one towering facility in western Singapore is betting that smarter technology and sharper execution can still make local food production work.
A New Landmark for Local Farming
Greenphyto officially unveiled the world’s tallest indoor vertical farm on Jan 7 in Singapore’s Jurong West industrial area. Rising over 23 meters high, the five-storey, fully automated hydroponic facility represents a 14-year vision by founder Susan Chong. The S$80 million development spans 2 hectares and is designed to produce up to 2,000 tonnes of leafy greens annually at full capacity, although current output stands at around 200 tonnes.
From Supermarket Shelves to Scale
Singaporean consumers may already be familiar with Greenphyto’s produce, sold under the Hydrogreens brand at 95 supermarkets including FairPrice and Sheng Siong since early 2025. Popular items include kailan priced at S$3.95 for 200g and Mambo lettuce at S$3.20 for 100g. The farm also grows Japanese chye sim, baby spinach, arugula, and other specialty greens, positioning itself competitively against imported vegetables.
Bucking a Troubled Industry Trend
Greenphyto’s launch comes amid a difficult period for vertical farms both locally and globally. Several Singapore-based agri-tech ventures have shut down in recent years due to high capital costs, rising energy prices, post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, and weakened investor confidence. The closures of Growy Singapore, VertiVegies’ abandoned plans, and I.F.F.I’s shutdown underscore the sector’s fragility, further complicated by Singapore’s decision in late 2025 to replace its “30 by 30” goal with new fibre and protein targets for 2035.
Technology as a Cost and Quality Lever
Chong believes technology must serve the end product, not overshadow it. Greenphyto operates with 69 patents supporting AI, robotics, and automation systems that optimize crop growth while reducing costs. The farm has cut energy consumption by 30 percent through custom LED lighting that adjusts intensity based on each crop’s growth stage. This approach directly addresses one of the biggest pain points for indoor farms: electricity costs.
Precision Farming, Zero Waste
Unlike many farms that grow at scale without guaranteed buyers, Greenphyto operates on a make-to-order model. Vegetables are grown only after orders are confirmed by retail partners such as FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Meidi-Ya, and Far East Flora. This strategy minimizes waste and ensures consistent demand, while AI systems monitor crop health, germination rates, and yield predictions in real time, alerting staff to potential issues before losses occur.
Beyond Vegetables: A Tech-Driven Business Model
Greenphyto has diversified beyond produce sales. It is commercializing its proprietary farming systems through offices in Malaysia and the Netherlands, while its AI software is being positioned for use across agriculture, food and beverage, and supply chain sectors. With support from the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Digital Leaders Programme, the company is preparing a technology spin-off, Arber.ai, to help farms and SMEs adopt digital solutions more effectively.
Greenphyto’s towering facility reflects more than engineering ambition. It signals a strategic shift toward smarter, demand-driven farming at a time when food security, cost efficiency, and technological resilience matter deeply to both Indonesians and Singaporeans navigating climate, supply chain, and economic uncertainty.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Greenphyto Farm, Indoor Vertical Farming, Hydroponic Vegetables, Singapore Food Security, Agri Technology
