By streamlining the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) process, CarbonFarm ensures the integrity and credibility of carbon claims.
In a world grappling with the urgent need to embrace climate-smart agriculture, one name has risen to the forefront: CarbonFarm. At the 2024 Grow Asia Innovation Challenge (GAIC), this groundbreaking solution was crowned the winner, spotlighting its pivotal role in transforming the rice value chain across Southeast Asia. With a focus on digital agri-food solutions, the GAIC—backed by Korea’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Beanstalk AgTech—showcases innovations that hold the promise of a more sustainable future.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
A New Vision for Rice Farming: Transparency from Space
The winning solution, CarbonFarm, is no ordinary agricultural innovation. Its cutting-edge platform leverages artificial intelligence and satellite technology to enable smallholder farmers in Vietnam and beyond to access carbon markets with confidence. By streamlining the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) process, CarbonFarm ensures the integrity and credibility of carbon claims. This AI-driven approach quantifies emissions reductions with precision and transparency—two qualities essential for attracting investments from carbon buyers and project funders.
“At Carbon Farm, we are working towards decarbonizing rice transparently and providing all stakeholders in the rice value chain access to carbon credits. Rice is one of the most polluting crops in the world, contributing to 12% of global methane emissions. We are pleased to be able to connect with experts from all around the world through the Grow Asia Innovation Challenge, who will undoubtedly strengthen our solutions and expand our impact to more farmers across Asia
The ambitious plan includes scaling up sustainable practices to 2,000 farmers in the Mekong Delta over the next two years. The project, which is Vietnam’s first rice decarbonization initiative, represents a blueprint for transforming agriculture in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change.
From Innovation to Action: Scaling Technologies Across Southeast Asia
This year’s Grow Asia Innovation Challenge drew nearly 100 entries from innovators worldwide, all vying to present their solutions for climate-resilient agriculture. The top 10 finalists had the opportunity to showcase their ideas at the Grow Asia Digital Learning Series in September, which attracted over 200 stakeholders and industry leaders from more than 20 countries. Ultimately, it was CarbonFarm’s commitment to transforming the rice value chain through science-backed digital tools that earned it the top spot.
The competition’s focus was clear: empowering smallholder farmers to improve productivity, market access, and climate resilience. The emphasis on scalable, farm-ready technologies highlights the need for climate-resilient agricultural solutions in a region increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and environmental stressors.
Runners-up Thanks Carbon and Rynan Technologies were also recognized for their impactful innovations, which included digital advisory systems and solutions to enhance value chain marketability. As part of the program, these innovators will undergo a tailor-made curriculum of human-centered design training and mentorship from industry experts. This hands-on support will enable them to refine their solutions and align them more closely with the real-world needs of smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs.
Vietnam’s New Food Innovation Hub: A Convergence of Ideas
A critical initiative underpinning the 2024 GAIC is Vietnam’s new Food Innovation Hub, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Grow Asia, and the World Economic Forum. This Hub serves as a dynamic ecosystem—both virtual and physical—where innovators, scientists, and international experts can collaborate to address complex challenges in the food value chain.
The Hub’s mission is clear: to tackle issues critical to food security and forge sustainable solutions to the multifaceted challenges facing agriculture. By bringing together top thinkers and doers from across the globe, the Food Innovation Hub aims to facilitate new partnerships, accelerate impactful technologies, and create scalable models for agricultural transformation.
The recognition of CarbonFarm and other innovators signals a shift towards a more transparent, climate-resilient agricultural model in Southeast Asia. As part of its winning strategy, CarbonFarm plans to scale its technology to reach 12,000 farmers across the region over the next two years. By expanding its AI-powered platform, the company hopes to not only decarbonize rice farming but also inspire a new wave of digital solutions aimed at reducing emissions across the entire agri-food landscape.
But the journey doesn’t stop here. Grow Asia has already set its sights on the 2025 Innovation Challenge, which will be hosted in the Philippines. Innovators from around the world are invited to submit their digital solutions, all with the aim of advancing climate-smart agriculture and improving smallholder livelihoods in Southeast Asia. The call for innovations will focus on technologies that foster inclusivity and resilience within value chains—continuing the mission of empowering farmers and agri-businesses to thrive in an era of climate uncertainty.
We are delighted to see the incredible response to the Grow Asia Innovation Challenge, which attracted almost 100 high-quality ready-to-scale solutions. The challenge will help create a pathway for these innovations to improve the productivity and livelihoods of agri-SMEs and smallholder farmers across Southeast Asia
The Grow Asia Innovation Challenge’s impact goes beyond identifying promising solutions—it’s about creating a movement. Through initiatives like the Digital Learning Series and the Food Innovation Hub, the GAIC is building a collaborative community that includes innovators, farmers, policymakers, and industry leaders. Together, they are working to shape an agricultural sector that is not only productive but also equitable and sustainable.
Lead image courtesy of GrowAsia
