Singapore's First Commercial Snail Farm Aims for Cosmeceutical Snail Slime and Escargot

In a unique indoor facility located west of Singapore, hundreds of snails are seen enjoying their environment, clustered together on a wooden tower complete with a feeding area. The farm is run by Stephanie Kudus, the founder of WholeSnail, Singapore's first commercial snail farm. During a recent interview, she observed pairs of snails mating, a rare occurrence that excited her team. WholeSnail plans to produce its first batch of snail slime for skincare and escargot for consumption by mid-2025, operating with a dedicated team of fewer than ten people and managing around 40,000 snails in a controlled climate.

WholeSnail's primary focus is on the garden snail species, cornu aspersum, which is smaller in comparison to the larger African land snails often found in local gardens. Ms. Kudus emphasized the premium nature of these garden snails, which are established delicacies not commonly found in Singapore. Her motivation for choosing snails over other livestock included their manageable nature and the ease of caring for them, as they are less active and quieter, allowing for daytime maintenance.

To prevent snails from wandering off, the farm's wooden tower homes have their edges lined with salt tablets, a precaution to protect against escapees. Each tower is modular and designed to house over 1,000 snails, with layers that can be rearranged to optimize living conditions. Ms. Kudus acknowledged the learning curve in operating a snail farm, stating that WholeSnail employs a combination of intuitive and data-driven approaches to enhance their farming practices. Her enthusiasm for snails extends beyond their care; she shared interesting facts, such as their 14,000 teeth and the different types of slime they produce for various functions, including defense.

to keep nurturing happy snails and continually learn in the process.