Shaping Tomorrow Through Education and Industry: Exploring Sustainable Food Parks with Temasek Polytechnic

As the food industry continues to evolve rapidly, balancing production capacity with reduced resource consumption and carbon emissions has become a critical challenge. Food manufacturing parks—key nodes in urban food systems—are undergoing a transformation toward greener and smarter operations.

Against this backdrop, Zebrafish Capital has collaborated with Temasek Polytechnic (TP) in Singapore. Recently, TP’s research teams launched an applied study focusing on “Sustainable Food Parks.” Through interdisciplinary collaboration, they explored architectural design, energy systems, and green building standards to present a forward-looking prototype of a future-ready park.

Innovation Highlights

Two research teams from the Integrated Facilities Management and Business Process & Systems Engineering departments contributed to the study. Their key outcomes include:

•  Architectural & Spatial Modeling

Using JTC Bedok Food City as a reference, the teams developed a BIM model of a three-story food manufacturing complex with rooftop features. A 3D-printed prototype was also created to visually demonstrate functional zoning and operational workflows.

•  Energy & Sustainability System Simulations

① Simulation on Anaerobic Digestion (AD) from waste to energy conversion: Based on 3,000 kg of monthly food waste, the system simulated an output of approximately 1,020 kWh/month—enough to charge 680 smartphones daily.

② Simulation of Solar PV System to demonstrate the conversion of solar energy to electricity: Designed with 667 rooftop solar panels, the system could generate around 7827kWh/month, potentially saving up to SGD 581,000 in electricity costs over time.

•  Green Building Features

A “green checklist” was compiled, integrating vertical greenery, reflective coatings, modular construction, and self-healing concrete—balancing environmental impact with economic feasibility.

The Value of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

This study not only showcased academic depth but also highlighted the power of cross-disciplinary integration:

•  Synergy between architectural design and energy engineering

•  Complementarity of waste-to-energy systems and solar PV

•  Incorporation of Singapore’s Green Mark certification framework

These innovations bring the concept of a “Future Food Park” closer to real-world application.

Significance of the Collaboration

For Temasek Polytechnic, the project exemplifies the value of bridging education and industry. The research teams didn’t just complete their assignments—they validated the feasibility of sustainable parks through data, models, and prototypes.

For Zebrafish Capital, this was a meaningful opportunity for observation and exchange. We were privileged to witness TP’s research achievements and continue to reflect on how these innovations can inform the development of future food parks and regional projects.

Looking Ahead

Applied research is a seed. When nurtured and validated, these ideas can take root in real-world developments. Zebrafish Capital will continue working hand-in-hand with Temasek Polytechnic to transform research concepts into industrial solutions—exploring a replicable and scalable path toward sustainable development.