[Seeds of Change] Urban Food Systems x Iceberg Model

Why it matters

In urban Singapore, food can feel distant from the land and the people who grow it. Yet community growers and volunteers are cultivating more than crops — they are nurturing connection, care, and kampung spirit.

The Iceberg Model invites us to look beneath visible events like community farms operating on temporary land or people's disconnection with where food comes from, exploring the deeper patterns, structures, and mindsets that shape how we relate to food and land. By surfacing these layers together, we can better understand the wider urban food system and discover more relational, regenerative ways of “farming our heart.”

Urban Food Systems

with Iceberg Modeling

Seeds of Change

A public workshop series that combines systems thinking and futures tools to help practitioners, changemakers and curious citizens think and decide differently in complexity.

See overview of the series here.

What is an Iceberg Model?

The Iceberg Model is a systems thinking tool designed to help us look beneath the surface of everyday events. While we often react only to what we can see (the tip of the iceberg), this model encourages us to dive deeper into the hidden patterns, structures, and mental models that actually drive behavior. By addressing these root causes, we can create lasting change rather than just "fighting fires."

This approach is especially useful for:

• Identifying recurring problems that don't seem to go away with quick fixes

• Uncovering the hidden systemic structures and policies that shape our behavior

• Surfacing deep-seated beliefs and assumptions that keep a system stuck

• Moving from a reactive mindset to a proactive, design-oriented way of thinking

What you'll walk away with

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with:

• A deeper understanding of visible activities in Singapore’s community farming landscape, and what they reveal about community, care, and connection.

• Insights into the underlying patterns, structures, and mindsets that shape how food is grown, shared, and valued.

• Practical takeaways to better cultivate care, connection, and kampung spirit through farming.

Whether you’re new to urban food or already involved in community initiatives, this session is designed to help you see the deeper patterns shaping how we grow, share, and value food — and to connect your efforts more intentionally to the wider urban food system.

Date: 18 Apr 2026, Sat

Time: 9.15am–12.30pm

Venue: Kampung Kampus

Cost: S$30 - includes GUI farm tour and GUI community lunch!