Agri-enterprises advance climate-smart growth in Southeast Asia

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program, a joint initiative of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Villgro Philippines, has helped three gender-inclusive agri-enterprises across Southeast Asia expand climate-resilient business models and attract key investments.

Launched earlier this year, the SAFE Acceleration Program provided mentorship, market validation, and investment readiness support for early-stage agricultural enterprises.

Over four months, participating enterprises joined diagnostic panels, learning labs, masterclasses, and peer exchanges, including 36 hours of one-on-one mentoring from 16 experts and trainers.

The program culminated in the SAFE Impact Showcase held online on Oct. 3, 2025, featuring enterprises from Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste.

“We are proud to stand with entrepreneurs who are turning challenges into opportunities for farmers and communities,” said Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs.

She said the program aims to scale up solutions that improve farmer incomes while promoting environmental stewardship and social inclusion.

This objective aligns with SEARCA’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan, which focuses on the Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia under its SUSTAIN Southeast Asia agenda.

Villgro Philippines Co-Founder and CEO Priya Thachadi highlighted the need to empower food producers.

“Real transformation in food systems begins when those who produce our food are no longer treated as beneficiaries, but as builders of the future,” Thachadi said.

Agri-enterprise spotlights

• The Green (Lao PDR): The Green supports rural and women-led farms through poultry production, veterinary services, and cold-chain management. It has reduced chick mortality to below 1 percent, improved farmer incomes, and partnered with more than 300 farms. It aims to reach 1,000 farmers by 2026 and is developing an AI-based poultry disease diagnosis tool while seeking partnerships with agriculture ministries, NGOs, and universities.
• Katuparan Producers Cooperative (Philippines): This farmer-led cooperative produces sustainable pet and therapeutic foods using sweet potato, peanuts, cassava, moringa, and rabbit meat. It promotes regenerative agriculture and women-led resilience. With new investments, it aims to expand to more than 100 stores, support 500 families, and increase incomes by 30 percent within five years.
• Sansli Liz Unip (Sansli Green, Timor-Leste): Sansli Green connects smallholder farmers to markets, including the national school meal program, and prioritizes women’s leadership. It has improved livelihoods for more than 100 farmers and supplied nutritious produce to 5,000 students. Planned expansions include cold storage upgrades, logistics improvements, and organic farming training.

More details about the enterprises and their plans can be accessed through the SAFE Diligence Book at bit.ly/SAFEDiligenceBook.

Speaker and expert insights

The SAFE Impact Showcase convened more than 70 investors, government officials, and development partners to explore investment and policy pathways for resilient agri-food systems.

• Archana Stalin, co-founder of myHarvest Farms, said regenerative agriculture begins with connecting consumers to food sources and ensuring fair livelihoods for farmers.
• Sarah Kretschmer of DLG Markets GmbH stressed the importance of localized innovation, inclusive policymaking, and increased climate-resilience funding.
• A panel featuring Imelda Bacudo of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Afifa Urfani of Pandawa Agri Indonesia, and Chris Teoh of responsAbility Investments AG called for improved governance, measurable impact, scalable models, and inclusive partnerships to advance regenerative agriculture.

Strengthening impact through collaboration

The achievements of The Green, Katuparan Producers Cooperative, and Sansli Green demonstrate growing momentum for climate-smart and regenerative agriculture in Southeast Asia.

The SAFE Acceleration Program highlights how strong mentorship and cross-sector collaboration enable agri-enterprises to balance profit and purpose.

SEARCA and Villgro Philippines urged investors and development partners to support these enterprises as they scale regenerative solutions for resilient farming communities across the region.