PeelPioneers - a #FoodTech500 company’s Post

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

Highlights from #Gulfood2024 - Lithuania and UAE Forge New Frontiers in Sustainable Food Trade. The #UAE and #Lithuania have signed an MoU to revolutionize global food trade through sustainable food systems. With a focus on organic agriculture, sustainable farming, and climate change mitigation, this partnership marks a new era in bilateral trade. Lithuania's innovative approach to sustainable food production aligns with the UAE's vision for a sustainable future. 🔬 With a strong emphasis on sustainability and advanced technologies, Lithuania has been a trailblazer in environmentally friendly agriculture and high-quality food production. The Baltic nation's food exports to the UAE surged to 16.1 million in 2023, with a spotlight on organic farming and sustainable food production. Lithuania's innovative approach to food and beverage trade, aptly dubbed 'You are what you E.A.T (Exceptional, Advanced and Tasty)', is a testament to their commitment to quality and innovation. Link in the comments to learn more 👉 Žemės ūkio ministerija | Litfood | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania | #StandWithUkraine | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

🍫 As global demand for cacao surges, the question arises: can our local cacao beans rise to meet this challenge, while empowering our local growers and protecting the environment? A collaborative effort is key to nurturing the growth of our cacao industry, empowering farmers and stakeholders through sustainable practices. Embracing Gendered-Environmental, Social, and Governance (G-ESG) practices could further boost the industry's development. MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates)'s Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada and in partnership with the Cacao Industry Development Councils from Davao Region and Davao City, recently organized a cacao business forum. This event brought together government agencies, cooperatives, farmer groups, and SMEs to discuss strategies for sustainable growth. This business forum also provided a platform for PPSA's member, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. to comprehensively discuss their Digital Farmer and Entrepreneurship Programs. 📍 Read more about the 'Tapok-Tapok sa Kakaw Piyesta' on PPSA's website: https://lnkd.in/g7-4kFEX

🇺🇬 | Meet Alice Natukunda, John Cherek and Derick Komwangi, who tell us how digitization is changing the game for #SmallScaleCoffeeFarmers and coffee cooperatives in Uganda! Coffee cooperatives in the country have started using the digital app Trace from Fairfood to streamline farmer payments and transactions, with the goal of increasing transparency and traceability in the value chain, from producer to consumer. This is an important step that supports compliance with a new regulatory environment that requires greater insight into the value chain. Companies like Fairtrade Original are now able to trace the coffee they purchase back to the producers and show that the producers received a living income reference price for their produce. This project is implemented by Fairfood and Solidaridad East and Central Africa under the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme, in collaboration with the Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union (ACPCU) and Nyeibingo Growers Co-operative Society. Find out how digitization in coffee improves the prospects for farmers in Episode 3: Accelerate disruptive innovations! And check out more videos from this impact series! Produced in collaboration with MAKMENDE Media. Fairfood TrustAfrica BWI Indonesia Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken #RECLAIMsustainability #PowerofVoices #Transparency #TraceableCoffee #Uganda #TraceabilityTools #SmallScaleAgriculture #SpecialtyCoffee

New Project Launched to Strengthen Sustainable Food Systems in Côte d'Ivoire On September 17, 2024, the Sustainable Food Systems Enhancement Project (PRESACI) was launched in Abidjan. Funded by the EU and implemented by CARE Côte d'Ivoire, this four-year initiative (2024-2028) aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of Côte d'Ivoire's food systems. The project focuses on increasing the production of staple foods like vegetables, cassava, and plantains, and ensuring their availability in national and international markets. Pascal Téhua Kouassi Angui, representing the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the country's commitment to sustainable agriculture. Laura Desmoulin from the EU and Sémon Bamba, National Coordinator of Côte d'Ivoire-EU Cooperation, emphasized that this project represents a significant step towards enhancing food production and sustainability. Read more on our website[https://lnkd.in/e4GvYMjF] #PRESACI #SustainableAgriculture #CIV #EUSuppor

Yesterday we successfully held virtual session on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), organized by Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur, International Trade Centre, Nederlandse Voedsel en Warenautoriteit - NVWA. Our speakers give practical information about the steps for showing compliance with deforestation-free coffee. Key Highlights:   ✅ Over 156 attendees from diverse sectors: exporters, producers, NGOs, and government representatives joined us to learn about compliance requirements for exporting to the Netherlands under the EUDR.   🎤 Expert insights from the Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority: participants received concrete guidelines on how to prepare for inspections and ensure products meet the required standards, ensuring no deforestation in their supply chain.   💬 Engaging Q&A session: brought up pressing questions on compliance requirements, coffee sector-specific challenges, and best practices for traceability.   🕟 Surprise Update: We shared exciting news about a potential extension for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation period, providing additional time for stakeholders to adapt and ensure compliance.     Missed the session or want to revisit the key points? We’ve got you covered!   🔗 https://lnkd.in/dAeGexFx   We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the speakers, organizers, and participants who made this event a success.   At the TRAIDE Foundation, we are developing business cases for coffee traceability to promote sustainability and deforestation-free trade. We seek collaborative partners to create innovative solutions that empower cooperatives and smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to comply with the EUDR. If you’re passionate about sustainability in the coffee supply chain, we’d love to hear from you!   📧 Contact us at: kiya.girma@traide.org   #EUDRCompliance #SustainableTrade #DeforestationFree #EUTRADE #Ethiopia

With sustainability at the core, Puratos Grand-Place proudly became a sponsor of Cocoa Association of Asia. Gricha Safarian, Managing Director of Puratos Grand-Place Indochina, emphasized the true essence of sustainability in his opening remarks. "Sustainability," Gricha said, "is about growing your business without harming the environment or communities around you. True sustainability means paying for what we use.” For the first time, 16 farmers from eight countries - Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda, Bolivia, and Vietnam - came together in the Farmer Network at the Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA). This initiative was created to give a voice to the people who are often at the heart of the cocoa industry but rarely heard. The farmers discussed six key topics, guided by Selene Scotton: Sustainable Farming Practices, Innovative Technologies and Methods, Climate Change Adaptation, Market Access and Trade, Community Development and Farmer Cooperation, and Regulatory & Compliance. Representing Vietnam were: Ms. Nguyen Hong Thuong, Director of Nhat Tam Cooperative from Dak Lak Province, and Mr. Dong Tien Hung, Director of A1 Cocoa Company from Binh Phuoc Province. Alongside the Puratos Grand-Place team, they actively contributed to the discussions, highlighting Vietnam’s practices in cocoa farming. As we look ahead, we anticipate positive changes within the cocoa industry. By continuing to collaborate, share knowledge, and embrace innovation, we can ensure that cocoa remains a thriving, sustainable industry. #Puratos #PGPI #CAA #FarmerForum #Fruit #Farmer #Forest

Yesterday, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), launched the EPA-Kenya Sensitization Forum in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. This second public awareness forum is part of an initiative aimed at educating Kenyan enterprises about the newly signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which offers duty-free and quota-free access to the vast EU market. The agreement creates unprecedented trade and investment opportunities for Kenya, helping businesses better understand how to capitalize on these benefits. The Kenya-EU EPA facilitates Kenyan exports to the EU, promotes sustainable trade practices, and enhances Kenya’s global economic integration. The forum presented key presentations on trade policies, investment opportunities, and the role of sustainability in the EPA, in particular, how compliance with ESG standards can enhance competitiveness in EU markets. The forum was organized by stakeholders from the EU Delegation, State Department for Trade, state ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), along with private sector Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) such as Danish Industry, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), Kenya Flower Council (KFC), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Avocado Society of Kenya (ASOK), and the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), among others. Representatives from Kirinyaga and Embu County Governments and various industry leaders also participated in discussing the impact of the EPA on Kenyan businesses and strategies to maximize its benefits. More sensitization forums are planned across other counties, including Machakos, Isiolo, Mombasa, and Nairobi, to be held in the coming months of 2024. #EUKenyaEPA

Today, the Ingredients for a Circular Economy partnership unites 12 partners representing 21 NUTS2 #regions, forming a strong and rich ecosystem with regional perspectives, expertise, and resources. In Wallonia, our established office, Wagralim, the Agri-Food Innovation Cluster of Wallonia receives great support from regional institutions like Service public de Wallonie, Wallonia Export & Investment Agency, and Wallonie Bruxelles International. By coordinating the #DIS5 of S3 Wallonia | Smart Specialisation Strategy, Wagralim, the Agri-Food Innovation Cluster of Wallonia facilitates local actors' engagement at the EU level. We recognize a strong synergy with the IIS FoodBooster initiative and aspire to foster deep collaboration with them. Together, through strategic development and shared objectives, we aim to drive impactful and sustainable innovation across #Europe. 🌱🤝 #RegionalSupport #Innovation #Collaboration Wagralim, the Agri-Food Innovation Cluster of Wallonia | Flanders' FOOD | Valorial, le réseau innovation agri-agro | INNOV'ALLIANCE AgriFood Wellness Naturalness Innovation Cluster | Galicia Food Cluster | ANFACO-CECOPESCA | CNTA | NAGRIFOOD - CLUSTER AGROALIMENTARIO DE NAVARRA | Agrifood Clust-ER | Region of Central Macedonia | ATECluster Thessaloniki Greece | @SMART FOOD Cluster by Lithuanian food exporters association (LitMEA)

EABC and AGRA Partner to Boost Intra-EAC Agri-Food Trade The East African Business Council (EABC) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) have launched a new initiative aimed at promoting agri-food cross-border trade within the East African Community (EAC). The project, titled “Promoting Intra-EAC AgriFood Cross-Border Trade by Tackling Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs),” focuses on increasing the participation of women and youth-led traders while improving the trade of key agricultural products such as maize, rice, beans, and horticulture. The three-year initiative will empower over 2,400 youth and women-led cross-border traders by addressing the challenges of NTBs, reducing trading costs and time, and promoting the use of trade facilitation tools like the Simplified Trade Regime (STR). With $399,900 in funding from AGRA, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project will establish digital trade information booths at key border points and build the capacity of traders to report NTBs and access vital market information. The project, implemented in collaboration with the TANZANIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE (TCCIA), will facilitate public-private dialogues and develop an EAC NTB Index to monitor progress. Targeted trade corridors include Taveta and Holili, Malaba and Busia, and Kibirizi and Tunduma, among others. The initiative aims to boost food security, employment, and income for farmers and traders across East Africa. #EABC #AGRA #IntraEACTrade #WomenInTrade #YouthEmpowerment