Temasek Life Sciences Accelerator’s Post

Sorghum cultivation is making a comeback in Indonesia, offering a promising alternative to traditional staples like rice and wheat. With its adaptability to various climates and soils, sorghum is gaining traction among farmers, particularly in regions like West Kalimantan . This drought-tolerant crop not only enhances food security but also supports sustainable agricultural practices. Let’s embrace sorghum for a resilient future!

GREENING VIETNAM’S RICE BOWL STORY (Pt.2) 🍚 [Continue from the p1] The Mekong Delta is witnessing a green transformation from traditional practices to cutting-edge methods. Farmers like Le Dong Phuong are embracing sustainable techniques that boost profits and reduce environmental impact. Thanks to VnSAT, these farmers now produce high-quality rice with fewer resources and less methane emission. With partnerships between farmers, agribusinesses, and international organizations, including IFC, the region is seeing a shift towards safe, low-carbon rice. The success is clear: improved yields, increased earnings, and significant emission reductions. The future of rice farming in Viet Nam is not just sustainable—it’s thriving! 🌾💚 In particular, International Finance Corporation (IFC) – the private-sector-focused member of the World Bank Group – has been working with notable agribusinesses such as Tan Long Group, to implement sustainable farming practices. These efforts will help lower production costs and reduce post-harvest loss. After the 7-year project, these practices have helped cut approximately 1.5 million tons of CO2e emissions each year. Hence, IFC would love to support financially to scale up VnSAT via results-based carbon financing of emissions reduction from the Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) to reward farmers for their emission reduction achievements. Source: https://lnkd.in/gd9wb5iX.  __________________________________________________ SATY - An Ecosystem of a Sustainable Agriculture #SATY #sustainability #agriculture #sustainablericefarm #impactosocial #technology #SustainableAgriculture #GreenGrowth #MekongDelta #InnovativeFarming #ClimateAction

Earlier this month, members of our DC-based team traveled to East and North Luwu, Indonesia, to engage directly with key stakeholders of the Advancing Cocoa Agroforestry Toward Income, Value, and Environmental Sustainability (ACTIVE) program. ACTIVE, a collaboration between Institute for Development Impact - I4DI, USAID and Mars, is championing sustainable practices for cocoa cultivation and striving to improve income opportunities for farmers in Indonesia. The impact of our work extends beyond the farmers themselves, to collaborations with key actors in the cocoa value chain. One inspiring example is Rusman, a Mars cocoa collector. Farmers sell their cocoa to Rusman every 2 to 3 weeks during the off-season, and as often as every 10 days during peak season. At the height of the harvest, Rusman collects cocoa from up to 100 farmers daily, supporting around 600 farmers in the areas surrounding Bakka Village – and, remarkably, he knows the name of every single one. Indonesia’s cocoa landscape is a testament to the dedication of people like Rusman and the farmers he works with. In 2024, the country stands as the world’s sixth-largest producer of cocoa, and the scale of cocoa production in Indonesia is expanding. With global cocoa prices soaring to four times their ten-year average, demand for cocoa and sustainable farming solutions is increasing rapidly. However, this demand  presents challenges. Rising input costs for fertilizers and labor can strain farmer incomes, even amid higher cocoa prices. That’s why programs like ACTIVE are vital. By helping farmers and collectors adapt to market dynamics while promoting sustainable practices, ACTIVE is laying the groundwork for long-term resilience and prosperity. Together, we’re building a future where cocoa farming is not just a livelihood, but a pathway to environmental sustainability and community resilience. #I4DI #SustainableCocoa #Agroforestry #LivingIncome

🌾 Exciting Partnership Announcement: Rize x TLL x TLA 🌾 Today marks a pivotal moment for sustainable agriculture as we, Rize, join forces with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Temasek Life Sciences Accelerator (TLA) to spearhead the future of rice cultivation in Indonesia. 🌏This strategic collaboration aims to decarbonise and boost climate resilience in rice farming through innovative field trials and the adoption of sustainable practices. 🌱 Key Highlights - The partnership focusses on Java, Indonesia, with field trials across 100 hectares for three planting seasons, focusing on TLL’s three-pronged approach: climate-resilient rice varieties, soil microbiome enhancement, and efficient irrigation techniques. - With rice being a staple for half of the global population, this initiative is pivotal in addressing the environmental challenges posed by rice cultivation, including significant greenhouse gas emissions. - Our goal is ambitious yet attainable: a 20% reduction in methane emissions, improving farmer incomes through additional revenue streams from dry season crops and potential carbon credits. 🤝 This partnership is a testament to our commitment to driving positive change in agriculture. By harnessing innovative technologies and sustainable practices, we aim to ensure food security, reduce the carbon footprint of rice cultivation, and support the livelihoods of farmers. 🔗 For further details of our partnership, click here: https://lnkd.in/gazKrmpT #AgricultureInnovation #SustainableFarming #RiceCultivation #ClimateResilience #Partnership #Rize #TLL #TLA #Indonesia #Java

How are Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand leading the way in sustainable oil palm cultivation? Our latest article delves into the innovative measures these countries are implementing to balance environmental protection with economic growth. Explore: ⏹ economic benefits and ecological challenges of oil palm cultivation ⏹ collaborative initiatives driving real-world impact ⏹ cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies for sustainable farming Join us on a journey through Southeast Asia to uncover the future of sustainable oil palm farming: https://bit.ly/4bPjSh5

#InTheMedia: Experts highlighted the potential of low-emission rice production in the Mekong Delta as a key driver of sustainability. During a workshop conducted by Vietnam MARD and IRRI, carbon credits were emphasized as a benchmark for success, signaling Vietnam's progress in climate-resilient agriculture. With IRRI's support, Vietnam is implementing innovative techniques like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and mechanized direct seeding, aiming to cut methane emissions and boost rice quality. The gaps in infrastructure development and farmer incentives were also highlighted in the workshop. Read more: https://bit.ly/3U2oOJB

🌱 Sustainable Agriculture - Taking One Step at a Time 🌾 I’m excited to share that as a Project Manager, I am part of an incredible initiative that is setting the stage for sustainable rice cultivation in Indonesia. We at Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Temasek Life Sciences Accelerator, and agritech pioneer Rize, are embarking on a transformative project to decarbonize rice farming and enhance climate resilience. This strategic partnership aims to integrate cutting-edge research with practical, scalable solutions. By establishing joint labs in Indonesia and initiating field trials, we're not just aiming for a minimum of 20% reduction in methane emissions but also improving yield efficiencies and farmer incomes through innovative, sustainable practices. 🌍 Our collaboration with Rize leverages their digital platform to educate and aggregate farmers, ensuring the wide adoption of low-emission rice cultivars. Together we are pioneering a path that could redefine agricultural practices globally. 👨🌾👩🌾 To all farmers, stakeholders, and partners involved: your engagement and support are crucial as we move towards greening rice cultivation and securing food sustainability for future generations. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress towards making rice green again! #Sustainability #Agriculture #Innovation #RiceFarming #ClimateAction #ProjectManagement

🇻🇳🌾 As Vietnam, a global leader in rice exports, grapples with challenges like climate change, market volatility, and evolving consumer tastes, the call for enhancing rice quality, reducing costs, and lowering emissions has never been more urgent. At Rize, we see these challenges as opportunities for innovation and transformation. Our commitment to sustainable rice cultivation aligns with Vietnam's new initiative to grow high-quality, low-emission rice. We believe in empowering farmers with advanced, eco-friendly farming techniques and digital #AgriTech solutions, similar to Vietnam's focus on training farmers in new production methods and supporting them with financial resources. As Vietnam invests in infrastructure and technical solutions to adapt to water scarcity and saltwater intrusion, we're inspired to explore similar paths and collaborations. https://lnkd.in/gk9kdxq6 #SustainableAgriculture #InnovationInFarming #RizeImpact

Opportunity

Another Big Win for Carbon Markets! Vietnam’s Mekong Delta Farmers are set to receive nearly $40 million in carbon credit payments through the One Million Hectares High Quality and Low Carbon Rice initiative, supported by Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) and The World Bank. This groundbreaking project is reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable farming practices. The pilot phase delivered impressive results: lower input costs, higher rice prices, and increased farmer incomes. It’s a significant step toward Vietnam’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through sustainable rice production. At Varaha, we firmly believe that sustainable agriculture is key to both economic growth and environmental protection. This initiative highlights how carbon credits can provide financial empowerment to farmers while encouraging eco-friendly practices. Varaha adopts a similar approach with Direct Seeded Rice (#DSR), incentivizing farmers to transition to regenerative practices. Our technology helps generate high-quality carbon credits, directing revenue to farmers and our implementation partners. As we look ahead, the 1M Ha project inspires us to continue building systems that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment. Together, we can drive positive change! 🌱 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggjJavjB #sustainability #carboncredits #regenerativeagriculture #climateaction #varaha #agritech #climatechange #dsr #vietnam