Date: June 10, 2026
Category: Urban Agriculture / Social Sustainability / Corporate Health & Wellness
Read Time: 5 mins
As high-density living continues to shape modern cities, corporate leaders, healthcare executives, and urban planners face a shared challenge: How do we design built environments and institutional programs that actively foster human flourishing?
In support of #GoGreenSG, V-Plus Agritech Pte Ltd and Abuzz Landscape, supported by EverraLife and venue partner Singapore Sustainability Academy (SSA), recently co-hosted an executive seminar:
🌱 "Rooted in Nature: The Science of Human Flourishing in Urban Environments"
Held at City Square Mall’s Singapore Sustainability Academy, the event opened with a hands-on Evening Harvest Event at the rooftop CDL MicroFarm. Guests experienced firsthand what decades of clinical and psychological science now confirm: frequent, active engagement with nature restores mental focus, reduces stress, and strengthens community well-being.
Evening Harvest Event at the CDL Rooftop MicroFarm – Attendees harvesting fresh produce prior to the seminar
Here is a summary of the key scientific and strategic insights shared by our guest speakers on why nature is essential infrastructure for commercial, healthcare, and educational institutions.
Strategic Takeaways & Expert Insights
1. "Touch the Soil, Touch the Soul" — Designing Beyond Green Mark
Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL)
"A sustainable future needs to have a 21st-century kampung culture where people have an open heart and are open to constant unlearning and relearning." — The late Tay Lai Hock, Founder of Ground-Up Initiative (featured in Esther’s Keynote)
Opening the keynote, Esther An emphasized that sustainable real estate must move beyond passive energy metrics to active human-centric design. Reflecting on the philosophy of the late Mr. Tay Lai Hock, she demonstrated how integrating nature—such as rooftop urban microfarms like the CDL MicroFarm at SSA—creates tangible social value. These nature-based solutions mitigate the urban heat island effect while fostering authentic community connection and brand equity.
2. "Nature is Infrastructure for Human Health" — Clinical Evidence for Social Prescribing
A/Prof Gan Wee Hoe, CEO, Eastern General Hospital
"As doctors, we often focus on what is wrong with a patient. Nature reminds us to focus on what helps people flourish."— A/Prof Gan Wee Hoe, CEO, Eastern General Hospital
Presenting "Nature as Medicine," A/Prof Gan made a compelling case for healthcare providers and corporate wellness strategists. Highlighting that 80% of health outcomes are determined by factors outside hospital walls, he cited four decades of research across 143 studies and 290 million participants. The data proves that structured nature contact:
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Physiological: Reduces cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate.
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Psychological: Mitigates depression, anxiety, and mental fatigue.
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Social: Combats isolation through shared purpose and active rehabilitation.
As Singapore advances its Healthier SG and City in Nature vision, integrating horticulture-based social prescribing directly into care pathways adds vital life to years.
3. "Frequency and Meaning Beat Proximity" — The Psychology of Urban Nature
A/Prof Denise Dillon, Associate Professor, James Cook University Singapore
"It’s not how close nature is—it’s how often, and how meaningfully, we engage with it." — A/Prof Denise Dillon, James Cook University Singapore
A/Prof Denise Dillon presented research revealing that simply living near a park does not automatically guarantee mental well-being. Her team’s studies in Singapore show that frequent, participatory interactions matter significantly more than visual proximity alone.
Hands-on community gardening and urban farming offer a unique combination of comfort, familiarity, and agency. Compared to passive green views or individual home gardening, active urban farming generates significantly higher subjective well-being, resilience, and optimism.
4. "Urban Farming as Healing Agriculture" — Scalable Infrastructure for Cities
James Yin, Co-Founder & Director, V-Plus Agritech
"Urban farming is more than food. Growing food is nature itself, making it an engine for rehabilitation, social inclusion, and sustainability." — James Yin, Co-Founder & Director, V-Plus Agritech
Closing the session, James Yin outlined how modular, plug-and-play urban farming systems address both environmental and social challenges. Traditional long-distance food supply chains contribute to nutrient loss and waste. By decentralizing farming into institutional spaces, organizations can "short-circuit" the supply chain while driving measurable social impact:
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Healthcare Institutions (e.g., Outram Community Hospital): Delivering wheelchair-accessible hydroponic systems serving 550 beds for patient rehabilitation and cognitive therapy.
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Social Service Agencies (e.g., MINDS Regional Hub Hougang): Creating inclusive employment, vocational training, and social connection for 350 individuals with special needs. Target to engage 2,000 public members, and divert 24 tons of food waste into compost.
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Educational Institutions (e.g., SJI International Pre-School, West View Primary): Integrating experiential STEM education, sustainability values, and farm-to-table family engagement.
The Cross-Sector Demand for Action
During the interactive Q&A, attendees across healthcare, commercial real estate, education, and social services expressed a strong desire to transition from research to deployment:
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Horticulture Therapy: Discussions centered on formalizing professional standards for nature-based interventions.
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Clinical Integration: Executive interest in prescribing therapeutic farming routines within hospital and eldercare recovery pathways.
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Urban Architecture: Calls for integrating modular, water-efficient farming infrastructure into commercial assets and public amenities.
Exploring Nature-Based Solutions for Your Organization?
Whether you are designing a therapeutic space for healthcare, enhancing the ESG impact of a commercial property, or creating hands-on learning environments for an educational institution, we welcome the opportunity to exchange ideas.
Connect with the V-Plus Agritech Team to discuss how modular urban farming infrastructure can fit into your facility's wellness, sustainability, or social impact roadmap.