Project Cube/Roots is Singapore’s first urban agriculture research facility in a junior college for R&D work on innovative, sustainable agri-tech solutions for the production of healthy food products. The project will span five years.
The tripartite partnership is the first of its kind between a local enterprise, government agency and academia that exemplifies the project’s shared vision of R.I.C.E – Research, Innovation, Community Engagement and Enterprise.
Each party will provide resources such as infrastructure, technical expertise and manpower to determine research topics and develop new agri-food technologies and innovation for sustainable.
The research and innovation objectives include designing and implementing agri-tech based projects within Research@NJC programmes and developing compact and modular container-like agriculture systems that provide a controlled growing environment in an outdoor space.
The community engagement and enterprise aims include engaging students from other schools in the joy of research through workshops and collaborative projects and mobilising student leaders and CCA groups as ambassadors to promote health and sustainability.
“Fresh quality produce will be harvested and sold to food vendors in the school to reduce carbon footprint,” says the press release on the project while net proceeds from harvested crops will contribute to “Cube/Roots Care” funds to benefit the under-privileged youth and community-at-large.