Life3 Biotech (Life3), a Singaporean food-tech startup transforming the global food production system through innovative food-biotechnology solutions and Union Solar, a solar energy system developer, have recently announced the official groundbreaking of Life3 Urban Sustainability Hub (LUSH), the world’s first low-carbon facility that integrates the ‘Farm to Factory to Consumer’ concept.
Developed in Singapore, Life3 leverages renewable energy, proprietary AI-software and food-biotechnology, to pioneer a low-carbon, smart urban food production system that will integrate and operationalise the “Farm to Factory to Consumer” concept, making it the first of its kind in the world. The facility, located at Sims Avenue, is targeted to open in 2nd quarter 2024.
One of the key features of the LUSH facility is its Hydroponics Integrating MicroAlgae and Solar Energy System (HIMASS) developed after 4 years of R&D. It is a 2-in-1 solution, harnessing solar energy and water-upcycling to produce plant-protein and leafy vegetables sustainably in a closed-loop symbiotic system. The facility will also have a food processing and innovation area, for post-harvest MicroAlgae biomass to be processed into AlgoproteinTM which can be added into food products. LUSH will also have a tech experiential area for members of the public to engage in site visits, workshops and courses to learn about sustainability and healthy living.
Ricky Lin, CEO of Life3 Biotech said, “As a world’s first, HIMASS is a game-changing technology and a critical piece of the puzzle to complete our Life3 Urban Sustainability Hub where we can demonstrate how a smart, end-to-end food production system can be deployed sustainably in urban cities; starting from upstream cultivation to midstream processing and packaging, and lastly, to meet downstream consumers’ need for affordable and healthy food products, all made possible in Singapore with lower-carbon footprint.”
LUSH will continue to work closely with leading industry players in the private and government sector, like the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA), to cement Singapore’s position as a leader in food innovation.
Four Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) were signed by Life3 with Union Solar, AI Singapore, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to further the capabilities and capacities of HIMASS. HIMASS will be equipped with solar panels by Union Solar to convert solar energy into other forms of energy for MicroAlgae production. HIMASS will use a hydroponics and water-upcycling process, for wastewater to be upcycled, minimising water consumption via a circular economy approach. During this process, bio-fertiliser is produced as a byproduct to be used later in hydroponics.
Another novel feature for HIMASS is the proprietary AI-software that was created to oversee the growing protocol which includes monitoring, quality control at microscopic resolutions and maximising the growing and harvesting cycle. AI-enabled IoT through the Digital Twin’s technology will transform and enhance productivity through predictive simulation, operational control, and real-time optimisation. For instance, using AI image recognition for real time quality control will speed up this process by 30 times. Life3’s strategic partnership with industry bodies such as AI Singapore aim to further the adoption and innovation of AI in the areas of food technology.
Life3 and Union Solar will also collaborate with tertiary institutions Nanyang Polytechnic and ITE to spark interest and inspire youths participation in building a resilient future and living more sustainably.
