The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program is a program to support and scale innovative business models that tackle Southeast Asia's most urgent challenges in sustainable agriculture and food security.
Southeast Asia faces mounting food security challenges, with 60% of its population reliant on agriculture for livelihoods, yet climate change, with increasing droughts and floods impacting crop yields. The region loses an estimated 10–30% of crops annually to pests, extreme weather, and poor infrastructure, deepening rural poverty and malnutrition. Limited access to technology and financing, and aging farming populations need to be addressed to ensure the long-term sustainability of food systems.
The SAFE Acceleration Program is looking to support four high-potential agri enterprises that are creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers, fisherfolks, women, and/or indigenous communities in Lao PDR, Philippines, Timor-Leste, and , Vietnam. We aim to support models that integrate – nature-based solutions – those protecting the biodiversity of lands, and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
The SAFE Acceleration Program is a fully virtual 3-month program designed and implemented by Villgro Philippines in collaboration with SEARCA (Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture).