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.

what we do

Market Access

our work

Securing sustainable markets and value chains and communication customer needs to farmer suppliers.

We help producers find suitable markets, assist buyers to diversify their supply-bases and gain confidence in the supply chain.

By working with our local producers, they can improve quality, understand their market, increase production, and adopt best agricultural practices. We assist them to become niche suppliers of premium high-value product.

Sweet Relief chocolate

our work

Originally launched at the Pacific Cacao & Chocolate event in July 2022, our Sweet Relief chocolate bars support our charity and reward our donors.
Our friends at OCHO (Otago Chocolate Company) in Dunedin help us to transform beautiful Pacific sourced cacao beans into exquisite chocolate. 100% of the profits from these bars were used to fund our work helping farmers with disaster relief in the Asia-Pacific.
Funds from the 2023 batch of Sweet Relief are were used to support relief efforts, focused on helping Pacific Island communities and RSE workers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand- in partnership with Bright Sunday, and aid in crop and community rehabilitation after the two disastrous back-to-back cyclones and earthquake in Vanuatu. The GAP team have years of experience with on farm disaster relief work, particularly for cacao rehabilitation and improvement.
Sweet Relief is made with just two ingredients – cacao beans and sugar – so it’s totally gluten free, nut free, dairy free, soy free, and suitable for vegans. When you buy this bar you not only get a delicious chocolate treat, but you also help our Pacific neighbours to recover and thrive after natural disaster strikes. What’s not to love?!
Keep an eye out for the release of our next Sweet Relief chocolate batch

Pacific Cacao and Chocolate 2022 show

our work

“An amazing success” – Slow Food Auckland

With something for everyone, the Pacific Cacao & Chocolate event brought interactive cacao workshops, LOTS of chocolate tastings, a drive into culture, and enlightened consumers to the small business stories from cacao growers and producer’s around the Pacific region.

All proving as reminders and confirmation that there are dedicated farmers, passionate chocolate makers, and loving families behind every chocolate bar you consume.

The 2022 event has been supported by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand (MFAT) partnership programme through SPS Biota; and is a collaboration between Grow Asia Pacific Charitable Trust, Ms. Sunshine Organic Farms Charitable Trust, Samoa.

Click here for more information on how the 2022 event was.

Climate Smart Agriculture

our work

Grow Asia Pacific Implements SPS Biota’s Actions in Climate Smart Agriculture 

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.

Cocoa Farm Rehabilitation

On Christmas Eve 2019 the island of Samar (Philippines), where Grow Asia Pacific in co-operation with Seedcore Agri-Industrial Corporation run a cocoa livelihood programme, was hit by a powerful typhoon Ursula.

When Typhoon Ursula swept through Eastern Samar, Philippines in 2019, the storm affected 95% of cacao farms in the area, badly damaging farm infrastructure and crops. After Ursula, one of our partner organisations, SPS Biota, completed a rapid assessment of affected cacao farms.

The SPS Biota team was deployed to the affected regions, advising farmers of best recovery practices for limiting long-term tree damage and preventing the spread of pests and diseases. This rapid response ensured that the majority of cacao trees recovered and became productive again within a few months.

We're climate smart certified

Grow Asia Pacific is proud to help farmers become Climate Smart Certified.

Have questions? Contact us.

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