Can Mushroom Farming Help Achieve Singapore's Food Security Goals? Ryan Ong of Fogo Fungi - EP680
"Entering the farming industry as a very young farmer, in a time where the industry's not doing so well, I think that's one of the bravest things I've done recently. It’s not an easy journey, but if you’re going to do something brave, there’s going to be fear there for sure. You just have to surround yourself with the right people who are willing to help you and groom you." - Ryan Ong, the founder of Fogo Fungi
"Gourmet mushrooms are more perishable; oftentimes their shelf life averages out at about one week. The only way we can solve this issue is to produce it locally, directly to the supermarkets and restaurants, cutting out the whole logistic issue and giving consumers as close to day zero shelf life as possible." Ryan Ong, the founder of Fogo Fungi
"Singapore imports over 90% of its food. With parameters such as land scarcity, high labor costs, and high energy costs, farming is incredibly difficult to do in Singapore. However, if you can consistently grow high-quality produce like mushrooms or eggs at good prices, demand will naturally follow, as we've seen with the local egg industry." Ryan Ong, the founder of Fogo Fungi
In this episode, Jeremy Au sits down with Ryan Ong, the founder of Fogo Fungi, to explore the "unorthodox" world of indoor mushroom farming in Singapore. Ryan shares how a random YouTube rabbit hole led him from a career in his family’s hospitality business to building a bootstrap startup in the agritech space. They discuss the misconceptions about fungi—including why mushrooms actually need light—and the harsh unit economics of vertical farming versus traditional methods. Ryan also dives into the "30 by 30" food security goal, the medicinal potential of Lion's Mane, and why he believes local gourmet mushrooms can compete with imports from China and Malaysia by prioritizing "day zero" freshness.
Watch in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR9DOuSS72o&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_7scb97PE3whKu4yJVizIOd
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/23V2lODhcT1Wcjc4IDWyoR
