Susan Chong, founder and chief executive of Greenphyto, is spearheading efforts to transform agricultural production through advanced indoor farming technology. Her company, which operates Singapore’s tallest indoor hydroponics farm, opened its flagship facility in January 2026 in Jurong West, signaling a new phase in precision agriculture focused on sustainability and resilience.
Established in 2014, Greenphyto aims to create climate-independent, data-driven food systems that address challenges posed by climate change and an aging agricultural workforce. Chong, a seasoned entrepreneur and former CEO of sustainable packaging firm Greenpac, views vertical farming as a structural solution to food security rather than a mere technological trend. “Greenphyto demonstrates how technology, governance, and environmental performance can converge to create scalable, replicable food infrastructure,” she said.
The Jurong West farm covers 0.5 hectares yet makes significant use of vertical space, employing growing towers exceeding 23 meters in height. The operation is largely automated, with autonomous robots managing seedling movement and AI-driven software monitoring crop health, reducing the need for manual labor until harvest and packaging stages. The farm prioritizes sustainability with ambitious goals, including increasing renewable energy use by 30% by 2026, reducing carbon intensity by 30% by 2027, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
Energy-efficient LED lighting and closed-loop hydroponics are central to Greenphyto’s environmental strategy. The farm has earned GoldPlus certification under Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Scheme, recognizing features such as water efficiency and intelligent facility management. Additionally, it holds the highest accreditation level, the 3-Star SG Fresh Produce grade from the Singapore Food Agency, indicating adherence to rigorous good agricultural practices and resource efficiency.
Greenphyto grows vegetables under its Hydrogreens brand, including nai bai, kai lan, and baby spinach, supplying local retailers like FairPrice, Cold Storage, Sheng Siong, and RedMart, as well as Malaysian chain Village Grocer. While the business remains loss-making, Chong expects to reach breakeven by the end of 2026. She emphasized Singapore as the core market, with measured steps towards international diversification primarily serving risk mitigation. Chong highlights a focus on food safety, pesticide-free produce, and improved nutrition as key competitive advantages.
Beyond the physical farm, Chong envisions Greenphyto’s true value in its proprietary technology and extensive intellectual property portfolio, which includes 74 patents. The company has expanded its presence with a regional office in Malaysia and a base in the Netherlands to market its farming technology across Europe. It is also collaborating with the Singapore Food Agency to develop a commercial software-as-a-service platform for use by other farms locally.
Greenphyto is exploring partnerships beyond agriculture to leverage its autonomous robotics and AI expertise, aiming to enhance efficiency across sectors. Chong describes this approach as a “platform game” in which collaborators maintain their operations while benefiting from data-driven insights.
The company’s social initiatives are notable, including the Circular Community Programme that has distributed fresh vegetable packs to over 219,000 families through community partners. Worker safety is another focus, with Greenphyto recording over 121,000 man-hours without injury in 2025, attributed to its advanced automation and safety protocols.
Chong sees Greenphyto as a model for sustainable, efficient food production in the face of land scarcity, climate effects, and import dependency. She highlights the company’s commitment to upskilling workers with training in agronomy, automation, AI, and data analytics, aiming to prepare the next generation of farmers rather than replace existing ones.
Ultimately, Chong stresses that food security, environmental sustainability, and social equity are not competing goals but integrated priorities that Greenphyto’s approach seeks to address in building resilient agricultural systems for the future.