Investment in sustainable agriculture and forestry remains a key priority for the Southeast Asia region to accelerate sustainable production and help meet net-zero emissions commitments by companies and others. While more capital is being made increasingly available, deployment still remains slow despite the increasing urgency climate change poses to existing business models and our way of life. Drawing from their unique perspectives, investor panelists will explore how the investment landscape for sustainable agriculture and forestry in Southeast Asia has evolved over the past 5 years.
What is emerging as key trends for investors?
How are investors addressing climate change challenges and opportunities in the region?
What are the clear opportunities for investment going forward and what are the barriers to making those real?

Partnerships have emerged as key in successfully addressing the climate crisis in Southeast Asia. Whether those are public-private partnerships that provide blended finance or pre-competitive partnerships among companies, the growing consensus is that solutions are more sustainable and impactful if they are designed collaboratively and share risk. Panelists will share their partnership experiences-what works, how to identify the right partners, and what results have been achieved that accelerate positive environmental and social outcomes.

Aligning with the belief that you cannot manage what you do not measure, the role of metrics and real time data is increasingly important for investors as well as companies seeking to meet sustainability commitments. However, quantifying and setting baselines for carbon emissions-particularly Scope 3 is time consuming and presents several challenges for companies with complex supply chains. Similarly, advances in GIS and remote sensing make monitoring forest loss and land use change more accurate and easier, but the technology has not been fully integrated into business or investor practices. Panelists will discuss the metrics which matter most for their business, how they are establishing baselines, and what tools and technologies are helping them make progress and attract investment toward net-zero emissions and zero-deforestation.