Rebecca Sharpe, Director of Better Earth Ventures, speaking at an event
The Agritech ClimAccelerator Singapore has officially launched its inaugural agritech programme focused on the Asia-Pacific region, marking a significant boost for climate-smart innovation in the sector.
Powered by Better Earth Ventures, this initiative aims to support startups in innovating, catalysing, and scaling their climate solutions.
The ClimAccelerator, a global programme backed by Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, Climate KIC, brings its extensive experience to the region. Over the past 15 years, Climate KIC has supported over 2,100 startups globally, facilitating more than €2 billion (approximately US$2.16 billion) in funding through its ClimAccelerator.
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Better Earth Ventures has also supported over 370 startups that have collectively raised more than US$500 million in funding.
The programme is actively seeking applications from startups based in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Anchored in Singapore, the ClimAccelerator will offer crucial resources, access to networks and capital, climate impact measurement tools, and connections to leading investors and industry experts.
Startups with solutions in areas such as novel farming practices, biotech and biomaterials, supply chain, water and energy management, and digital agriculture are encouraged to apply.
Eligible entities must be registered in one of the aforementioned countries, have a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 or above with validated prototypes ready for real-world testing, and be at the pre-seed stage or beyond, demonstrating traction, early commercial validation, or a clear scaling pathway.
Selected participants will benefit from strategic resources, industry connections, funding opportunities, and expert guidance to measure and enhance their climate impact. They will also have the opportunity to collaborate with leading investors, corporate partners, and agrifood innovation networks to accelerate their growth.
The launch comes at a critical time, as Asia-Pacific is home to over 60 per cent of the world’s population and many of the most climate-vulnerable agricultural regions. The region faces intensifying climate risks, including extreme weather, declining arable land, and water scarcity, potentially leading to a 15 per cent to 20 per cent reduction in agricultural productivity by 2050, with some crops facing up to a 50 per cent decrease.
Simultaneously, the demand for agrifood innovation is increasing, with investment in agritech startups in Asia-Pacific surpassing $8 billion in 2023.
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Rebecca Sharpe, Director of Better Earth Ventures, said: “We face urgent climate and food security challenges that require bold innovation and regional cooperation. This programme will foster an ecosystem to support agritech startups scale, driving climate resilience and sustainable food production. Better Earth Ventures is proud to be the partner to launch the AgriTech ClimAccelerator in Asia-Pacific.”
Applications for the programme close on Friday, 30th May at midnight Singapore time. Ten founders will be selected to participate, with the programme culminating in a demo day on Thursday, 6th November in Singapore. The AgriTech ClimAccelerator Singapore is supported by AgFunder, Enterprise Singapore, MarTech Collective, Rebbeck Consulting and Tomorrow Studio Ventures.
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