More than one billion people in the Asia Pacific region work in agriculture – from growing coffee in the Philippines, to harvesting rubber in Indonesia; from rice farming in Thailand to pepper production in Vietnam. This makes the sector one of the largest, and most dynamic in the world. Agriculture has the potential to transform lives and livelihoods, combat hunger and poverty. But too often, farming methods in this region rely on outdated and inefficient practices, and fail to maximise the sector’s strengths. Far-reaching, long-term changes are needed, but these are not possible with public funds alone. Today, a growing number of private companies are stepping up and investing in agricultural projects that help achieve sustainability goals. They comply with social and environmental standards along their supply chains and offer assurance to their customers about the origin and safety of their products. But this is by no means easy. Many companies face challenges, such as the risks associated with climate change, a lack of awareness of local political and economic conditions and unclear supply chains, so that the well-being of producers is hard to guarantee. This is where GIZ comes in: a reliable, strategic partner that helps to identify and overcome such challenges. Together with our private partners, we combine the expertise, strengths, and resources of the public and the private sectors. This enables us and our partners to achieve our individual goals while addressing global challenges and multiplying developmental impacts.