• 97% of survey respondents are supportive of the development of Agritech in Singapore
• 64% of respondents who are currently not employed in Agritech are open to starting a career or making a switch to the industry. 98% of them are interested in receiving training to develop the necessary skillsets and knowledge to work in the industry.
• However, 81% are unaware of where they can receive the relevant training.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach^[1] - 15 June 2021 - As the economy continues to recover, growth industries — such as agriculture technology, or Agritech, - are picking up pace. With most (89%) Singaporeans believing that the local Agritech industry will continue to grow within the next two to three years, two thirds (64%) of jobseekers who are currently not employed in Agritech are open to starting a career or making a switch to the industry.

These are some of the key findings NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB)'s recent Industry Insights 2021 survey on Agritech, conducted in March 2021 with 300 professionals and job seekers in Singapore.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 97% of the respondents agree that it is more important now to develop key areas for Singapore's self-sufficiency in terms of food supply. In addition, despite three in five (61%) agreeing that local produce is priced higher that imported ones, 71% are willing to pay more for local produce to support the industry if it translates to higher salaries and better job prospects for employees involved.

In terms of career opportunities, nine in ten (89%) of respondents who are currently not employed in the Agritech agree that it is a promising industry when it comes to career growth and development. In fact, more than half (64%) are open to starting a career or making a switch to Agritech. Most of them (98%) are interested in receiving training to develop the necessary skillsets and knowledge if given the opportunity. However, four in five (81%) are unaware of where they can receive the relevant training.

"With considerable private and government investments into Singapore's Agritech industry, this is an opportune time for those keen on joining the sector to contribute greatly to our nation's goal towards food security and sustainability. It is an emerging sector, which from the survey results, we can see that there is a promising buy-in from the general population. This motivation will encourage more from our local workforce to take on relevant skills and knowledge to drive the Agritech industry," says Eugene Wong, Chairman of NTUC LHUB.

In its latest collaboration, NTUC LHUB partners Netatech to offer a new course in Agriculture Technology. The homegrown company is the sole exclusive distributor for Netafim in Singapore, the global leader in precision irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture. Farm technology and automation are some of the key skills that will be imparted to those who are looking to venture into this emerging sector.

Commenting on the partnership, Tay Ee Learn, Director of Technical Skills Product Division, NTUC LHUB says, "We are encouraged by both the overwhelming response in our SG United Skills (SGUS) Programme on Digital Agritech, and the ongoing interest displayed by our trainees in entering the Agritech field. This is owing to the exciting opportunities in a burgeoning industry, appealing to job seekers at any career stage. Driven also by the social aspect of supporting the nation's sustainability agenda, NTUC LHUB will continue our efforts to develop in this space. Partnering with best-in-class experts such as Netatech, we aim to boost the employability of our trainees with the necessary skills and expertise in Agritech."

"Food is involved in many supply chains and wholesale, supermarket, food production, and medical industries. Urban farms require Agronomists, R&D specialists, IT experts, mechanical engineers, supply chain managers, business development managers, and more. This an opportunity to reinvent what a farm could look like, where more can take on 'green-collar jobs.' Food is a fundamental need, so there will not be any shortage of industry demands, but we need our local community to farm. If we don't have that, we can't do it," says David Tan, founder of Netatech.

To download the Industry Insights 2021 Report on Agritech, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com/agritech-2021^[2]. Find out more about the courses, training and grants, contact NTUC LearningHub at https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/^[3] .

References

1. ^{^} Media OutReach (www.media-outreach.com)
2. ^{^} www.ntuclearninghub.com/agritech-2021 (www.ntuclearninghub.com)
3. ^{^} https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/ (www.ntuclearninghub.com)