In the heart of bustling Singapore, where glass towers rise above meticulously planned streets and green spaces are often manicured for aesthetics, Bjorn Low has carved out a different vision rooted in soil, seeds, and sustainability. Born in Singapore, Bjorn’s early life followed a conventional path shaped by the city-state’s fast-paced, achievement-driven culture. But somewhere between childhood and adulthood, amid the hum of fluorescent lights and the rigidity of the 9-to-5 corporate grind, he began to feel a growing disconnect from nature, from food, and from purpose.
Bjorn’s formative years were marked by societal expectations: do well in school, get a good job, climb the career ladder. And for a while, he did exactly that. He studied marketing and advertising and eventually found himself working in the UK, absorbed in the rhythms of a global business world. Yet, disillusionment slowly crept in. The more he achieved professionally, the more he yearned for something meaningful, something that could contribute to the wellbeing of people and the planet.
That pivotal moment came when he left his corporate career behind and immersed himself in the world of sustainable agriculture. Traveling and learning about organic farming and permaculture, Bjorn discovered a deeper truth. Food wasn’t just about consumption. It was about connection, culture, community, and care. With that epiphany, he returned to Singapore determined to spark a quiet revolution.
In 2012, he co-founded Edible Garden City, a bold social enterprise dedicated to bringing food production back into urban environments. It began with a simple question: What if cities could feed themselves? At a time when local farming in Singapore was virtually nonexistent, the idea of growing vegetables on rooftops or in unused corners of the city seemed radical. But Bjorn believed that cultivating food could also cultivate resilience, and he set out to prove it.
Over the years, Edible Garden City has turned once-forgotten spaces into thriving gardens in hotels, schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods. These gardens do more than grow produce. They educate children, support marginalized communities, improve mental health, and remind busy urbanites that nature is never truly far away. One of the initiative’s most profound contributions has been Citizen Farm, a closed-loop urban farming model that showcases how sustainability, technology, and tradition can work hand in hand.
But the path was not without its trials. Bjorn faced skepticism from developers, limitations in funding, and the challenge of changing public mindsets in a society where farming was often seen as low-status or irrelevant. He responded not with protest but with quiet persistence. He built partnerships, mentored young farmers, and showed through tangible results that urban agriculture was not only viable but vital.
Today, Bjorn Low’s influence extends far beyond city borders. He is recognized globally as a leader in the urban farming movement, contributing to discussions on food security, climate resilience, and social inclusion. He has advised policymakers, collaborated with local governments, and inspired similar initiatives in cities around the world.
Bjorn’s legacy is one of quiet transformation. In a place where nature often plays a supporting role to steel and stone, he has helped re-center it as something essential, something that is part of our food, our health, and our future. Through patience, purpose, and plants, Bjorn Low has reminded us all that even in the most concrete of jungles, green things can grow.