SOUTHEAST ASIA rethink F d

Christine Gould, Founder & CEO,

Thought For Food Foundation

Content source

Source: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020

Home to 90% of the world’s farmers, Southeast Asia’s agri-food ecosystem is ripe for technology disruption. The chal-
lenges of climate change, urbanisation and rapidly evolving dietary needs are creating an urgent demand for sustainable
solutions to increase resilience and optimise farming processes, minimise waste, achieve supply-chain traceability and
develop healthy, exciting new food ingredients and products for the regional market.

Southeast Asia’s population is growing fast. As we get wealthier, we consume more meat and industrially produced
foods. By 2050, we will need to produce 70% more food compared to now and at the same time, a profound change of
the global food and agriculture system is needed if we are to nourish the more than 690 million people who are hungry
today – and the additional 2 billion people the world will have by 2050. Increasing agricultural productivity and sustain-
able food production are crucial to help alleviate the perils of hunger. Ensure agrifood products is available all the time,
affordable by all people, and nutritious for health to shift towards a more sustainable food and agriculture. The applica-
tion of innovation and technology is timely and in-line with the initiatives introduced by developed

Food systems stretch from producers to consumers (i.e. from "farm to table") and are international in scope. Ensuring (i)
the adequate availability, (ii) the nutritional adequacy, and (iii) the safety of the food supply has become increasingly
complex and requires substantial efforts from all parties involved throughout the food system. Which is why, it is time
for us as individuals, organisations and countries to rethink food.

Consumer perception is also evolving, with a perceived increase in the social unacceptability of food risks. Consumer
perception also relates to access and availability to a healthy and nutritious diet. The responsibility for safe and nutritious
food is shared by all players in the food system which includes those who produce, transform or handle the food from
production to storage and to its ultimate consumption. It also involves the interplay of scientific, legal/regulatory, social
and economic forces, both nationally and globally. A new way to eat is imperative. We need to innovate in what we eat,
and how we produce food to improve food security, reduce our environmental impact and build a well-nourished society.

Southeast Asia will not solve its food challenge through a continuation of traditional farming practices nor through linear
modernisation. New technologies will need to be deployed to increase yields, reduce the environmental impact of farm-
ing, improve the safety, traceability and nutritional value of food, reduce waste, shorten the supply chain and bring food
to consumers in their increasingly urban settings. These technologies will reflect the diversity of the farming environ-
ments and populations they serve; some high-tech and high-cost, others involving better farm practices to raise stan-
dards, improve yields and reduce waste as well as disintermediation to reduce price volatility. Innovation must stretch
across the whole food and agriculture supply chain — inputs, farms, processing, production, distribution, retail and food
service; all critical and intertwined.

In agriculture "innovation  is an  imperative“, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals including the zero hunger
target is still possible but it would require urgent and coordinated efforts and in this context, we are calling for cutting
edge innovation and breakthrough technologies to advance the entire food systems, thus building safer, healthier, and
more secure food systems for all.

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F d Security

Our Mission :
Unlocking the $10 trillion
opportunity for food
systems transformation

Food systems include the production, processing, trans-

port, consumption, and disposal of food - as well as all of
the complex, inter-related systems that support these
activities. All of these systems are under threat.

Food and agriculture is the

The hidden costs of global food and land use
biggest industry valued at systems sum to $12 trillion, compared to an
opportunity of the global food system of $10
about $8 trillion globally. trillion.
Source: The Global Consultation Report
of the Food and Land Use Coalition 2019

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 Sustainability

Our Vision : Solving our planet’s most critical food systems challenges
As the prime connection between people and the planet, Agri-Food can help achieve multiple Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals (SDGs).We strive to create a peaceful and prosperous world in which everyone, everywhere is surround-
ed by clean air and water, has limitless access to renewable energy, enjoys a habitable, pleasant climate, and is nour-
ished by delicious, safe, and diverse foods. Our works touch on all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - with
particular focus in the following area:

Almost 80% of We produce food Good health Sustainable

poor people live for everyone, yet starts agriculture holds
in rural areas almost 800 with nutrition potential to
million go hungry address water
scarcity


Translating
Vision into
Action
To accelerate
Change Modern food
systems are
Rural investment
can deter
 of the food we
produced is lost
Agriculture is key
in responding to
Fish gives 3 bn
people 20% of
heavily depen- unmanageable or wasted climate change daily animal
dent on fossil urbanization protein
fuels

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INNOVATING FOR
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
OF AGRI-FOOD
The agri-food sector is going to face enormous challenges to feed the projected 9.6 billion people who will inhabit the
planet by 2050, requiring a 60% increase in food.

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the fragility of Southeast Asia’s food supply chain and has exacerbated social
issues, such as malnutrition and youth unemployment, at a time when the region is also grappling with rising tempera-
tures and changing weather patterns from climate change. At the same time, digital technology, innovation, and entre-
preneurship have become even more important in accelerating the transformation of agri-food systems, by increasing
their productivity and effectiveness. All these efforts contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).

Innovation in agriculture cuts across all dimensions of the production cycle and along the entire value chain from crop,
forestry, fishery or livestock production to the management of inputs, to agro-processing and to market access. It may
involve, for instance planting new crop varieties, combining traditional practices with new scientific knowledge, apply-
ing new pest control and post-harvest practices or engaging with markets in new, more rewarding ways.

Innovation holds the key to making farming and the entire agri-food value chain more attractive, creating business and
employment opportunities and helping the Southeast Asia region to achieve food security, sustainable agriculture and
the Sustainable Development Goals.

We recognise the significant contribution that “next-gens” bring for leading a sustainable revolution in our agri-food
sector. Particularly, in agriculture ‘innovation is an imperative’ - there is a growing consensus that transition to more
sustainable food systems is indispensable and requires more sustainable and inclusive innovations.

As digital and sustainability natives, youth play an important role in driving forward this transformation. With nearly
220 million Millennials and GenZs living in ASEAN countries, it is critically important that we invest in our region’s
young people - they represent incredible market potential, and they care more than ever about food and how it is
produced. By supporting them in developing and accelerating innovative, digitally-enabled solutions we can accelerate
positive impact on the environment, health and economies across our region.

Empowering next-gen
to change the world !
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MASSIVE INNOVATION
POTENTIAL LIES IN WORLD’S
YOUTH POPULATIONS

With nearly 220 million

Millennials and GenZs living in
ASEAN countries, it is critically
important that we invest in our
region’s young people – they
represent incredible market
potential, and care more than
ever about food and how it is
produced.

Melissa Ong, CEO, Southeast Asia,

Thought For Food Foundation

Millennials and GenZ’s are the largest, most diverse, well-educated,

socially-conscious generations of all time.

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THE AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY
IS RIPE FOR IMPACT
In the next decade, the number of mouths to feed in Asia will
increase rapidly. By 2030, there could be 250 million more people
in the region — the equivalent of the population of Indonesia, the
fourth most populous country in the world. The majority of these
people will be wealthier as 66% of the world’s middle class will be
found in Asia compared with 28% in 2009.

This results in a demand for more and better quality sources of

food in the world’s most populous region. While this trend places
pressure on existing agriculture and food systems in Asia, it also
presents opportunities for investors who believe emerging tech-
nologies can resolve the pain points in these sectors.

Southeast Asia

Demographic Climate
shifts change

Sustainable Resource
consumption sustainability
Food &
agriculture
Empowered Tech &
consumers innovation

Health & Global

wellness food system

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 Agri-FoodTech
A key enabler of most – if not all – SDGs, INNOVATION is a main driver of
agricultural and rural transformations. Innovation refers not only to technologies
and practices, such as improved crop varieties, agroecological practices,
biotechnologies and financial instruments, but also to organizational forms such
as public-private partnerships and farmers’ cooperatives.

Agri-FoodTech entrepreneurs are stepping up to solve challenges faced in food

systems by harnessing the most advanced technologies and innovative solutions
- From plant-based protein, biotech, drones and hydroponics farming to the
potential of AoTs, artificial intelligence, big data, remote sensing, and
breakthrough technologies, innovators are driving radical transformation in
agri-food contributing to more inclusive, efficient and sustainable practices. 

Agri-FoodTech investment continues to break records,

reaching a staggering $20 billion in 2019, up more than 6X
from 2012.
Asia is poised to reap more than 40% of the US$12 trillion in global
development opportunities associated with the implementation of the SDGs,
creating almost 230 million new jobs in the region by 2030 – equivalent to 12%
of the Asian labour force.

$4 Trillion
2019 Food Spend in Asia

$450 Million
Smallholder farmers is Asia.

$800 Billion
Estimated investment required in 2030
to tackle food demand.

$5 Trillion
Development opportunity in Asia by 2030.
Source: Food Industry Asia.

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SOLUTION AREAS & CATEGORY

To create locally-relevant solutions that address a wide range of pressing challenges across all parts of
the food value chain - from production to distribution through to consumption and waste.

To leverage science and technology breakthroughs in areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, fintech and
biotechnology, and to utilise inclusive business models such as circular economy, open data, and the
sharing economy.

CATEGORY
Regenerative Agriculture
Urban Agriculture
alternative Agroforestry
proteins Agronomy
Aquaculture
Livestock
novel
Cellular Agriculture
flavours nutritious Crop Protection
and Plant Breeding
foods
aromas Crop Diversity
Microbiome
Areas of Agtech
particular interest Precision Agriculture
Nutrition
Alternative Proteins
appropriate
technology urban agriculture / Foodtech
for smallholders controlled Distribution
and transparent, environment
agriculture Food waste
inclusive Sustainable Packaging
supply
chains regenerative Climate change
agricultural Open business models
production Circular Economy
systems AI/ Machine Learning
(crops, aquaculture,
livestock) Synthetic Biology
Big data

8
RISING STAR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2021
TFF DIGITAL LABSTM www.tffdigitallabs.org

TFF Digital Labs - a powerful 21st century startup acceleration and collaboration platform built for the
next generation of entrepreneurs innovating in food and agriculture.

The Digital Labs features:

💡Practical courses: entrepreneurship/ change-making/ food system knowledge/ and more!
💡Group live sessions with experts and the TFF Team
💡Peer-to-peer advice and collaboration
💡Discussion forum with access to over 3.5k innovators globally
💡Perks and discounts
💡Participant exclusive podcast with leaders in food

All content is delivered by TFF diverse and multidisciplinary network of experts, creatives, and
entrepreneurs. Everything on the Digital Labs is presented in modular, bite-sized formats to facilitate
learning on-the-go. Participants can always go deeper, but the idea with the labs is to spark action.

Connects talent to opportunity

💡Proprietary digital platform to post job openings, internships,
volunteering placements, and other collaboration offers.
💡Offers approachable recruiting, career development and market
research services.
💡Provides targeted access to 25k+ next-gen talents with background
and/or interest in Agri-Food space.
💡Bridges the communication gap between corporate opportunities
and influential next-gen leaders across many relevant disciplines.

enables virtual solutions

development
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GLOBAL COMMUNITY

TFF Community is made of changemakers from all kinds of domains: artists, engineers, architects, design-
ers, agronomists, scientists, entrepreneurs and more.

RISING STAR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2021 14

Catalyzes next-gen innovation

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ACCELERATES IMPACT THROUGH
COLLABORATION Network of 25,000+ members
Connected with key players in agriculture, food, technology and investment 2019/20 signup and usage stats

RISING STAR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2021 11

STARTUPS IN ASEAN &
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT TFF Global Challenge Finalists
(selected)

SDGs 2, 7, 12

Rice Inc. empowers smallholder rice farmers with an effective

and affordable solar-powered drying system that unlocks the
true value of their harvest.

Myanmar/Malaysia/UK
Agtech

SDGs 3, 12, 13

Biteback is a biotech company with a sustainable palm oil

alternative that can be used for food, animal feed, cosmetics
and more.

Indonesia and Singapore

Biotech

SDGs 1, 2, 7, 12, 14

Banoo is a hardware solution that integrates a microbubble

generator, IoT sensor and solar panel to increase the oxygen
levels in fish ponds, helping increase yield and revenue for
small scale fish farmers, while reducing environmentally
damaging water waste.

Indonesia
IoT/Aquaculture

SDGs 1, 8

Aglonera is a bulk buying platform for street food vendors to

save them valuable time, increase their revenue and source
high quality produce directly from local farmers.

Indonesia
Marketplaces

1220
SDGs 1, 2, 15

Neurafarm is an AI-powered crop diagnostic tool to provide

early detection and treatment recommendations for
diseases and pests, targeting smallholder farmers.

Indonesia
Agtech/AI for agriculture

SDGs 2, 3, 12, 15

WTH Foods produces plant-based, nutritious and delicious

food products made from valorized bumper crops sourced
directly from local growers, processed to minimize waste
and have a long shelf-life

Philippines
Foodtech

SDGs 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13

Climate Edge uses IoT and AI to provide thousands of

smallholder farmers with expert advice and management
recommendations to improve their sustainability and
productivity

UK, Kenya, India

Agtech/IoT

SDGs 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13

Agrilution uses the latest vertical farming technology to

easily grow fresh herbs and leafy greens at home

Germany
Vertical farming

SDGs 2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17

Cultivando Futuro focuses on transforming rural economies

by mapping demand and delivering real-time data and
precise recommendations to align supply.

Colombia
Agtech

SDGs 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15

Agrosmart offers smart farming software that allows

remote monitoring of agroeconomic data for managerial
automation

Brazil
Agtech

13 21