Grow Asia

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 🚀🔥! We’re thrilled to announce the standout innovators selected for the Grow Asia Innovation Challenge! 🎉 These change-makers are tackling the biggest challenges in Southeast Asia’s rice value chain, bringing cutting-edge solutions to boost productivity, sustainability, and resilience for millions of farmers. A massive thank you to our partners, mentors, and sponsors for helping us find these exceptional innovators from across the globe. Together, we’re transforming the rice industry and driving meaningful impact across the region. 🤫 Stay tuned as we announce the Top Three who will join us in Singapore for the finale on 16th October! Supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, and in collaboration with Beanstalk AgTech, the Grow Asia Innovation Challenge aims to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart innovations by smallholder farmers across Southeast Asia. #AgTech | #GrowAsiaInnovationChallenge | #RiceValueChain | #Sustainability

The Magnificent Markham Valley 🌍 Grow Asia is pleased to invite interested members and partners to join our in-person, breakfast roundtable exploring Agri-Investment Opportunities in Papua New Guinea. Taking place on 16 October 2024, #WorldFoodDay, the session will explore developments and investment opportunities in the Markham Valley Agricultural Growth Corridor, as well as the steps Grow PNG Ltd is taking to unlock this potential. Grow PNG's Country Director David Stewart and Ruthy, Country Program Manager, will be in Singapore to lead this discussion and showcase the agricultural potential of the Markham Valley. 👉 To secure your place at this exclusive event and networking opportunity, please RSVP by emailing invite@growasia.org. The Details 📅 Date: Wednesday 16 October 2024 🕒 Time: 08:00-09:30 GMT+8 📍 Where: Conrad Singapore Orchard We're grateful to our partners at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their on going support to Grow PNG. We look forward to seeing you there! #GrowPNG #AgriInvestment #MarkhamValley

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬? It starts by empowering the 70 million agri-SMEs and small-scale #farmers that are on the front line. This is a shared responsibility between Governments, Businesses, and Civil Society, who all have limited resources. As a regional implementing partner for public and private entities who want to make their limited time and resources go further and deeper, Grow Asia is committed to bridging the gaps between stakeholders and fostering meaningful #collaboration that delivers tangible results. We work closely with local communities, private sector partners, and policymakers to develop scalable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity and climate vulnerability. Grow Asia's Executive Director Beverley Postma encapsulated this thought at the Rockefeller #AsiaXchange 2024: “We forget there is an SDG 17. We cannot achieve the other 16 SDGs unless we really invest in partnerships – partnerships that deliver impact together, not just partnerships that design and talk together.” #Partnerships | The Rockefeller Foundation | Deepali Khanna | Roy Steiner | Mehrdad Ehsani | Saahil Parekh | Ren Hua Ho | Thai Wah Public Company Limited | Niall O'Connor | SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute | Jennifer Lewis | Temasek Trust | Andrew Shaw | FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank | Anne-Laure Duval-Cassidy | World Food Programme

🌾 Did you know that digital technologies like drones, remote sensing, and precision agriculture are transforming Southeast Asia’s agri-food systems? However, there’s still a significant gap in adoption across the region. At the farm level, less than 5% of ASEAN agri-SMEs use digital technologies to improve their farming. There are a number of factors that restrict the uptake of digital technologies by smaller-scale producers, on whom we rely for 80% of our food in Asia - including limited access to technology, high costs, and variable network connectivity. Grow Asia's Chrissa "Borj" Borja and Thuy Cam Nguyen shared insights from our GrowVentures program which aims to drive the adoption of digital solutions for smallholder farmers in Asia at the ASEAN-Japan Symposium on Digitalization in Agriculture. Borj and Thuy joined experts in sharing how leveraging technology can enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and ensure food security for a growing population. At Grow Asia, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, connecting over 775 partners to drive sustainable agriculture and promote climate-smart solutions across ASEAN 🌱. #SustainableAgriculture | #DigitalTransformation | #ClimateAction | #ASEAN | The ASEAN Secretariat

Grow Asia proudly leads the efforts of the Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative in Southeast Asia, working to source, shape, and scale transformative solutions for more sustainable food systems. The Food Innovation Hub - Viet Nam (FIH-V) was established by Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum earlier this year. Viet Nam's #FoodInnovationHub will act as a catalytic platform to accelerate the transformation of Viet Nam's agricultural sector to become a powerhouse of sustainable and low-carbon agricultural products. In the first instance, FIH-V will mobilize experts and innovations that are vital for Viet Nam's 1 million-hectare High-Quality Low-Carbon Rice Project, as announced by the Prime Minister in December. 🤝 The Grow Asia Innovation Challenge, one of the first initiatives of the FIH-V, will foster innovation and collaboration to empower smallholder farmers, enhancing their productivity and resilience. The FIH-V is the first in Southeast Asia, and part of a global network of food innovators to drive tech adoption, #sustainability, and #transformation. 🔍 Ready to dive deeper? Explore the newly launched 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 — an interactive, practical guide for designing and implementing successful food innovation hubs: https://lnkd.in/dbiAruCd #FoodInnovation | #FutureOfFood l #AgriInnovation

So many highlights from this week’s #AsiaXchange in Bangkok. And many many people to thank 🙏 As always, I am deeply grateful to Deepali Khanna and inspired by the servant leadership of the The Rockefeller Foundation team, who brought us together for three days of intentional learning and sharing. I loved spending time with old friends and new. Here are some of my favorite moments: Ren Hua Ho - Thai Wah Public Company Limited “Think #30and3: Aim to make impact by 2030, but keep everyone engaged by designing measurable solutions every three months. You cannot simply intellectualize investing in agriculture, it comes from the heart” ♥️ Roy Steiner - Rockefeller Foundation “School meal programs are one of the best investments a country can make. They unlock multiple benefits for food systems transformation - from regenerative agriculture to healthier diets. We can save land, improve nutrition and it’s budget neutral!” 🌱 Ujala Qadir - Climate Bonds Initiative “The world has enough money to solve the climate crisis. We have trillions of dollars sitting in pension funds and other spaces. The problem is, how do we get it to flow where it’s needed? Capital Markets hold the key but cost of capital in Asia is high, which prevents it from flowing” 💸 Kitty Bu - The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) “We have a paradox: Investors are saying they have the funds, but they lack viable bankable projects. Meanwhile, project leaders say they cannot find funding. Clearly, money and projects are not the problem, it’s people. We have a mindset gap. We need to de-risk the thinking that says “this is too risky” 💡 Ravi Venkatesan “Alliances are essential to achieve both speed and scale but alliances need a Backbone Organization to hold them together. Good Leadership matters above all. Essential traits to look for in a leader are #Intensity and #Tenacity. ..you need to pursue your journey with the same intensity as a man with his head on fire who is looking for water” (Buddha) 🔥 My final takeaway: Don’t settle! Rally behind the change-makers and silo-breakers. Seek out Big Bets and opportunities to collaborate at scale. Ask yourself who is not in the room? ..and then go find them! Curtis S. Chin - Milken Institute “Let’s make #RadicalCollaboration a real thing!” 🚀

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝? 🌱 Today’s food systems are unsustainable for both people and the planet: 🌾 40% of arable land is degraded, and 33% of food produced for human consumption is either lost or wasted—exacerbating the global challenge of ensuring food security. 🌡️ Food systems are responsible for one-third of global GHG emissions, 80% of deforestation, and over 70% of freshwater use. 🍚 2 billion people suffer from malnutrition, 735 million from hunger, and 49 million are at risk of famine. A fundamental shift in how we produce and consume food is urgently needed. 🌍 The Food Innovation Hubs are an initiative by the World Economic Forum as a response to this critical need. With six pioneering hubs launched since 2021, including the Food Innovation Hub Vietnam—the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, launched by Grow Asia and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development—this initiative is building a global network of food innovators to drive tech adoption, #sustainability, and #transformation. The World Economic Forum's latest report, "Mainstreaming Food Innovation: A Roadmap for Stakeholders", produced in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), highlights the progress and potential of the Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative, a platform fostering new collaboration models, insights, and investment opportunities to revolutionize food systems worldwide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d_aaTW4g Grow Asia proudly leads the efforts of the Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative in Southeast Asia, working to source, shape, and scale transformative solutions for more sustainable food systems. Learn more about the Food Innovation Hub - Vietnam: https://lnkd.in/gsgYFmsX #Innovation | #Agriculture | #FoodSystems

𝐀𝐧 #equitable 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 #green 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. For climate solutions to grow and thrive at scale, we need to invest in tailor-made support systems that target communities that lie at the frontline. 🇹🇭 See you in Bangkok next week where our Executive Director Beverley Postma will join The Rockefeller Foundation at the #AsiaXchange conference for the thought-provoking discussion on ‘Solving the solutions trilemma: Inclusivity, affordability and scalability’ alongside Manisha Bhinge, Ambuj Sagar, and Sharon Kane. We also look forward to connecting with leaders and innovators from across the world 💡! Join us virtually by signing up here: https://bit.ly/AXvirtual 🚀 Let’s shape the future of Climate Action in Asia together—see you there! The Rockefeller Foundation | Deepali Khanna

💡 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: 📲 Digital tools like satellite data and e-wallets reduce costs and improve claims management. 🍃 Parametric insurance should cover pests, diseases, climate change, and soil quality. 🙌 Educating farmers on agri-insurance is vital for increasing uptake and financial inclusion. 🤝 Strong partnerships across sectors are key to driving progress in agri-insurance. Our Country Chapter in the Philippines Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) and the Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada in Manila recently co-hosted a Roundtable Discussion on #Agricultural #Insurance, bringing together key stakeholders to evaluate the current landscape in the Philippines. John Lok, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada, shared Canada's commitment to supporting smallholder farmers by promoting climate-smart, nature-based solutions and strengthening value chains. PPSA Country Director Angel Bautista also added that there is a need to enhance climate resilience in agriculture, strengthen partnerships to expand insurance coverage, and continually improve models. AgriCOOPh Federation | Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada | CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative Official | inBEST Ventures | Jollibee Group | MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) | Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation

💡 The standout moments of this year’s 11th #MIGlobal Asia Summit were the many urgent calls to action to unlock and de-risk #ClimateFinance, and to accelerate more intentional and coordinated investments - most notably in #foodsystems; and to showcase the vital role of women as change-leaders and enablers. The importance of blended finance was dissected by leading experts during this year’s 6th annual Food & Finance Leaders Roundtable, which was supported once again by Grow Asia. 💬 Our Executive Director Beverley Postma joined Liz Curmi, Citi; Peter Tang Butterfly Equity; and Holly Freishtat in a fast-paced conversation that unpacked the urgent need to unite more diverse actors across agri, food, finance and tech to design and deploy more sophisticated forms of blended capital. Panelists were aligned on the need to accelerate the valuation of low carbon and regenerative farming practices, and to urge capital markets to re-evaluate perceived risks in the sector by profiling untapped returns for investors, especially in the #globalsouth. The urgency for more curated multi-sector ecosystems was captured succinctly by Deepali Khanna, The Rockefeller Foundation who reminded us that “the moment to act is now. Climate Change is not knocking on our door, it is HERE!” Huge congratulations to Laura Deal Lacey, Curtis S. Chin, Amos Garcia, Esther Krofah, and the entire team at the Milken Institute for convening another world-class gathering and for delivering on this year’s promise of moving beyond Impactful Ideas to Purposeful Action! We look forward to seeing many of our partners in New York for this year’s Climate Week where Grow Asia will continue its mission of ecosystem-building with the implementation of the #GrowBeyond Blended Climate Fund!