In Singapore, a robotic, self-sufficient restaurant

In Singapore, inside the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center, Michelin-starred chef Corey Lee has been put in charge of the new Na Oh culinary project: a food laboratory offering customers a complete journey from seed to table. The building contains a two-storey, fully automated farm and employs ABB robots to cultivate a variety of crops with planting, growing and harvesting areas. A system of 568 cultivation towers on a conveyor belt, together with a tray stacking system, provide water, light and moisture to the plants. The hydroponic growing core is capable of producing more than 30 kg of produce per day.

One of the most important challenges the country faces in the coming decades will be food production. Only one per cent of its land is available for agriculture and by 2022 it will import 90 per cent of its food from 183 countries. The HMGICS smart farm supports the country's “30 by 30” goal, which aims to increase self-sufficiency rates by 30% by 2030. By producing fresh, local crops, the centre plays a vital role in this national effort, directly connecting guests to a sustainable ecosystem.

The menu will be designed to highlight these fresh ingredients through seasonal changes and new dishes that, in turn, introduce seasonal variety to Singapore's culinary scene. In addition to catering to the needs of the Na Oh restaurant, the HMGICS — due to open in November 2023 — has been designed as a hub for innovation. Visitors can explore the smart farm, witnessing the cutting-edge processes that take food from seed to table, through a host of other programmes and attractions.