FAO and Grow Asia Renew Five‑Year Partnership to Accelerate Climate Resilience, Gender Equality, and Digital Innovation in Asia’s Agrifood Systems

2/12/2025, Bangkok/Singapore – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Grow Asia have renewed their partnership with a new five‑year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fast‑tracking agrifood systems transformation across Asia and the Pacific. Building on the momentum of the 2021–2024 MoU, the renewed collaboration deepens both organizations’ commitment to strengthening the resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of smallholder agriculture in the region.

FAO and Grow Asia have forged a strong partnership in recent years, combining FAO’s global technical expertise with Grow Asia’s multistakeholder network spanning six country chapters and more than 775 partners. Together, the organizations have strengthened value chains, advanced responsible investment, and expanded the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in shaping agrifood systems.

The renewed MoU was formalized during a virtual signing ceremony on 1 December at 12:00 PM Bangkok time, featuring remarks from Mr. Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, and Ms. Beverley Postma, Executive Director of Grow Asia.

“FAO welcomes this new chapter of collaboration with Grow Asia to advance digital transformation, climate resilience, women’s empowerment, and inclusive financing—key drivers supporting smallholder farmers and agrifood SMEs who form the backbone of food security in this region,” said Mr. Alue Dohong.

Under the agreement, FAO and Grow Asia will jointly advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, expanding women’s access to skills, resources, leadership pathways, and markets across agricultural value chains. The partnership will also help countries strengthen climate resilience and unlock sustainable financing through climate‑smart agricultural models, enabling policies, and innovative financing mechanisms benefitting farmers, cooperatives, and SMEs.

Grow Asia’s Executive Director Beverley Postma welcomed the renewed partnership, noting: “Strengthening Asia’s agrifood systems demands both global expertise and field‑level insight. By uniting FAO’s global capabilities with Grow Asia’s deep regional networks and on‑farm expertise, we can accelerate climate resilience, unlock sustainable financing, and drive inclusive digital innovation for the farmers and rural enterprises at the heart of the region’s agrifood economy.”

The collaboration will also scale digital transformation by improving digital literacy, expanding digital advisory services, strengthening data ecosystems, and catalyzing innovation among SMEs and agritech startups. In parallel, both organizations will intensify efforts to amplify private sector and SME participation in policy dialogues, ensuring national and regional agrifood policies are inclusive, evidence‑based, and aligned with member country priorities.

By leveraging FAO’s technical depth and Grow Asia’s regional platforms, the renewed partnership is poised to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals while strengthening food security and resilience across the Asia‑Pacific region.