This interview details Corridor Farmers, an indoor farming company based in Singapore. The interview is with Roc Koh, CEO of Corridor Farmers.
Corridor Farmers was established with a vision of “a farm in every corner” to connect produce supply from those small-scale micro farmers, ranging from urban farms, community/allotment and home gardeners to the demand for such produce within the hyper local vicinity.
The idea was to increase freshness and reduce food waste and food miles, by providing means of distribution to these underserved Microfarmers, where volume and transportation are of concern.
In Corridor Farmers' initial year, we started with a Carousell like app, something like an eBay for produce, and agri services. Buyer seller list posting and get matches by shortest distance. Think of it like CSA, community-supported agriculture with an app.
However, by the end of the first year, we had to pivot from a tech app-based company to an agro-consultant company as there wasn’t enough traction in Singapore. We identified demographics as the challenge in the local market. The growers in Singapore are mostly elderly and less tech-savvy.
We are currently in the business of building, managing microfarmers, providing educational services and also aggregation services. We see that all green buildings of future circular cities will have greenery, waste and energy infrastructure. We believe some parts of the greenery can be converted into edibles with the intent of supplementing food and social/wellness purposes. And it is in our interest and mission to influence this and push for a farm in every corner by empowering micro-farmers and fostering hyperlocal food distribution.
Facing the future, Corridor Farmers anticipates challenges such as incremental climate conditions outdoors resulting in manpower shortage, and crop growth issues. Overcoming and staying resilient through these hurdles is crucial for the company's survivability and sustainability.
What sets Corridor Farmers apart is firstly our service proposition. We build specifically only micro farms with specific intentions and functions such as complimenting needs of F&B owners, hotels, social/ wellness institutes and educational institutions. We also collect all farm data from resources input to yield output for the micro farms we manage with hope they can contribute to ESG reporting.
Corridor Farmers believe in the need to deploy technology appropriately and to practice sustainable agriculture. While we constantly innovate and Corridor Farmers understand that every site may vary in microclimate conditions, hence we provide bespoke designs for our clients’ microfarms. This distinct approach positions the company uniquely among our competitors.
Corridor Farmers core team is lean we have 2 Full Timers with a community of volunteers and part timers.
Since last year Corridor Farmers has build the following microfarms for Canadian International School, Pathlight School, UTown at National University Singapore and other smaller projects with standard builds.
We are currently managing the rooftop Aquaponics Farm for Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford, and partnering together for tours and educational sessions.
Our 2022 metrics (2023 is still being review)
In the coming years, Corridor Farmers plans to
-Double our core team size.
-Venture and capture the indoor hydroponics system leasing market where there are clients/property owners are keen on have an edible centerpiece at lobbies or offices.
-Consolidate farming partners and onboard them as working partners for educational services.
-Curate a micro farmers framework with emphasis on sustainable practices for non-commercial farm practitioners.
-Aggregate private dining chefs/micro farmers on a common platform.
These objectives align with the company's commitment to growth and sustainability.
To stay updated or connect with Corridor Farmers, visit our official website https://www.corridorfarmers.com
For more immediate updates, follow us on Facebook, IG, Tik Tok and LinkedIn @corridorfarmers
Additionally, inquiries can be directed to roc@corridorfarmers.com
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