Creating ethical & sustainable farming practices
Grow Asia Pacific (GAP) is a New Zealand registered Charitable Trust that aids and supports the primary sector's ethical and sustainable farming practices in the Asia Pacific Region.
who we are
Providing farmers opportunity for sustainable growth
Farmers are essential in all societies for producing food, fibre, and helping to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
Despite this vital role, farming systems are coming under increasing stress from a rage of negative influences, including climate change, an aging workforce, and competition for land use. Grow Asia Pacific comprehends the need for improved returns for farming families and explores realistic opportunities to create resilience, secure markets, and increase incomes.
Minor changes to farming practices and fair access to resources and markets are often all it takes.
The trust was established by the Directors of SPS Biota to pass on the knowledge gained from decades of agri-business work primarily in the Pacific.
Grow Asia Pacific supports the Three Pillars and Five Actions of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture organisation. The pathway to achieving successful outcomes; balanced environmental protection, food security, and economic development, is delivered by SPS Biota.
Our vision
Resilient and prosperous Pacific farmers with fair and respectful business relationships across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region.
Our mission
To be a respected partner in providing platforms and expertise for Pacific farmers to supply premium products to Australasian markets.
Sweet Relief
The Sweet Relief chocolate bar supports our charity and rewards our donors. Originally launched at the Pacific Cacao & Chocolate event in July 2022. Fast-forward twelve months and our friends at OCHO (Otago Chocolate Company) in Dunedin are helping us to transform beautiful Pacific sourced cacao beans into exquisite chocolate. 100% of the profits from these bars are used to fund our work, helping farmers with disaster relief in Pacific.
Funds from the 2023 batch of Sweet Relief are used to support relief efforts, focused on helping Pacific Island communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand, and the two disastrous back-to-back cyclones and an earthquake in Vanuatu.
This edition of the Sweet Relief bar is made with beans from the Lavarat and Atchin communities on Malekula Island in Vanuatu, along with beans from Kingstan Kamuri’s farm in Papua New Guinea. Future bars will be made with cacao from a variety of origins, as we expand our sourcing to Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and the Philippines.
Made with just two ingredients – cacao beans and sugar – our Sweet Relief chocolate is gluten free, nut free, dairy free, soy free, and vegan. When you donate from $150, you not only get a box of very tasty chocolate and other supporter benefits, but also help our Pacific neighbours to recover and thrive after natural disaster strikes. What’s not to love?!
The GAP team have years of experience with on farm disaster relief work, particularly for cacao rehabilitation and improvement. In 2019 Typhoon Ursula swept through Eastern Samar, Philippines, damaging 95% of cacao farms. We helped farmers quickly recover productivity and income. Grow Asia Pacific helps farmers throughout the Pacific to become climate resilient and get back on their feet quickly after natural disasters strike.
To show your support, you can make an in-kind donation to the relief effort of your choice by clicking the ‘Donate Now’ button further down the page or get in touch to learn more about making a Corporate Gift Donation.
About Corporate Gift Donations:
GAP offers ‘Corporate gift donations’ as tiered options for companies who wish to be recognised as supporters of Grow Asia Pacific, and the communities we work with. Donors will receive Sweet Relief chocolate to either resell or in other ways distribute as they wish.
Corporate gift donations start at $150 for per box of 30 Sweet Relief chocolates, along with the corresponding tiered benefits. Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more about making a Corporate Gift Donation.
We help farming communities get back on their feet after natural disaster strikes
what we do
Climate Smart Agriculture
our work
Grow Asia Pacific Implements SPS Biota’s Actions in Climate Smart AgricultureÂ
Experts assert that climate change will have significant effects on the frequency and severity of adverse weather events. Our focus on farm production supports food security objectives as well as maintaining livelihoods.
To get communities back on their feet after the disaster, it is crucial to adopt resilient and sustainable farming practices and recover food supply and lost income streams as quickly as possible.
To read more visit spsbiota.co.nz or view in PDF format here
Sustainable & conscious cacao farming
our work
Grow Asia Pacific recently made a significant purchase of organic cacao beans from Vanuatu, which will be masterfully crafted into a variety of cacao products to showcase the potential of premium cacao.
We’ve teamed up with buyers and chocolate makers in the region to produce a range of value-added products, including artisan chocolate and bulk cacao liquor. With a global desire for more sustainable food production, cacao consumers have an increased consciousness around the origins of the products they buy, particularly that they come from ethical and fair farming that is nature friendly.
Grow Asia Pacific is proud to work with farmers, not only to help improve incomes but to hear and tell their incredible stories of ethical and organic production of premium cacao.
Rapid Recovery
our work
Experts anticipate increased frequency and severity of adverse weather events in the Asia Pacific Region due to climate change.
Grow Asia Pacific involves a Rapid Recovery Team to remediate damaged plantations and farms that can help re-establish crops and supply chain infrastructure in a short time after a disaster.
We can stabilise existing markets or establish new ones by short-term substitution from comparable farms throughout the Pacific to fill any supply gaps.
Farming and Forest Systems
our work
New Zealand is a world leader in farming techniques and innovation. Grow Asia Pacific draws on over 35 years of expertise from working in the food production and forestry sectors. GAP can help businesses, farmers, Governments, and communities build a sustainable future while protecting their natural environment.
Our focus is on ensuring communities prosper whilst helping them preserve natural ecosystems. Our approach is also fully consistent with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Climate Smart and REDD policies for environmental protection.
Market Access
