STV Nanotechology Company (STV Nanotech), a Hanoian startup, makes a Nano Silver gel which can be used in agriculture product preservation. Nano Silver is a nanomaterial gel made for sterilization and bacterial resistance, protecting the surfaces of agricultural products. In addition, it will reduce dehydration and respiration of farm produce, slowing spoilage.  

STV Nanotech’s product helps preserve the quality of agricultural products and extend the shelf life in natural conditions. It doesn’t have the negative impacts brought on by chemicals, as it is non-toxic with no side effects on the applied products. This versatility lends to wide application from healthcare, electronics, home appliances, and agriculture.  

This startup is using Nano Silver by putting it in fertilizers to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses that typically attack the plants. Currently the product is trademarked. 

STV Nanotech was a startup finalist at the Mekong Agritech Challenge (MATCh) Demo Day in Hanoi, Vietnam. MATCh will continue to support this startup in achieving their growth projection and beyond. MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive. 

MATCh startup finalist from Viet Nam, Dai Thanh Seafood, found a unique solution to keep shrimp healthy and farms profitable. Tran Phuc Hau discovered that ground sugarcane bagasse provides an ideal nutrient combination to the shrimp, water, and pond environment.  

Shrimp aren’t the only benefactors of sugarcane flour; pond water maintains more stable alkalinity, grows good algae, and lowers ammonia in the pond bottom. These improvements greatly reduce operational costs to the farmers and are environmentally friendly. Replacing traditional fertilizers and feeds with sugarcane also increases farmer livelihood as traditional methods were becoming costly and unprofitable.
Tran Phuc Hau opened Dai Thanh Aquatic Medicine Store in Bai Dinh town in 2014, supplying aquaculture medicines to farmers in the surrounding areas. He invested in sugarcane bagasse to supply farmers with intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farms. The product cost only 5,000VND (.22 USD) per kilogram for a day’s supply.  Overtime, farmers have seen noticeable, positive results. 

Dai Thanh Seafood was a startup finalist at the Mekong Agritech Challenge (MATCh) Demo Day in Hanoi, Vietnam. MATCh will continue to support this startup in achieving their growth projection and beyond. MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive. 

Using animal biotechnology, Enzootic farms all-female freshwater shrimp. The absence of aggressive male shrimp helps monosex farmed shrimp to flourish. 

“All-female populations are particularly well suited to intensive farming—demonstrating outstandingly uniform growth, higher survival rates, and superior feed conversion ratios” Raveh Gill-Moore, VP of Business Development for Enzootic.  

Enzootic acquired their first customers in early 2017, placing focus on markets in China and South East Asia. Their networks include public and private companies, plus governmental and academic institutes. Customers in four countries have adopted their super-female broodstock, with working plans to expand further.  

Enzootic has built their network organically and through strategic partners.  Upon discovering MATCh through ID Capital in Singapore, they applied to the program. MATCh selected the startup  as market access finalists, and they took 3rd place at the Mekong Agritech Challenge (MATCh) Demo Day in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. 

MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive. 

Knowledge is powering Myanmar startup Greenovator, which helps farmers help themselves.   

Greenovator’s programs encompass consulting, research and development, workshops, training, and education. Consultancy advice is available online and offline, helping farmers move forward toward goal achievement, while respecting traditional values. Farmers can also opt to have their soils and water source undergo quality checks. In addition, the training and education programs support farmers based on their level of knowledge.  

Greenovator’s mobile app GreenWay is a handheld version of their services. Within the app, farmers can access educational content, check market prices, view news, ask questions, and participate in co-ops. The combined support mechanisms are a win-win. Farmers can access timely information and increase their income as well.  

More than 90,000 famers have downloaded GreenWay, and the startup aims for 200,000 downloads by the end of 2018. The network founded by agriculturists and NGO’s will continue to expand, helping this team of 16 reach their target goals and beyond.  

Greenovator was a startup finalist at Mekong Agritech Challenge (MATCh) Demo Day in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.  MATCh will continue to support this startup through mentorship, investment opportunities, and access to stakeholder networks. MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive. 

Bolaven means “the home of the Laven people,” and the Laven who work at Lao PDR’s Bolaven Farms Limited are producing world-class organic coffees. With a focus on education and output quality, this startup is empowering farmers through a resident organic farming program. 

The resident program is two years long and designed to break the cycle of poverty one family at a time. It provides paid employment with room, board, organic farming training, and medical coverage. Upon graduation, farmers qualify for loans to establish seven-acre farms or work as contractors. This system equips the poor with real jobs, not aid or subsidies.  

Bolaven Farms is committed to quality. They view soil as a resource, that when taken care of, will increase yields and quality. The startup also manages nitrogen-enriching plants, grass-fed livestock, and composting. These combined systems preserve and respect the soil ecosystems in the Bolaven Plateau.  

MATCh will continue to support this startup to expand their operations.  MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive. 

New Idea Enterprise from Cambodia developed an innovative solution to the problem of post-harvest loss. Using unharvested and unsold bananas, they make an all-natural sugar.  

Founder Lim Phara had 20 years of industry experience before joining New Idea Enterprise. He noticed that the area has thousands of banana farms with high yields during the rainy season. Demand for the fruit is low during this season. Cambodians don’t have national festivals and farmers don’t have disposable income to buy them. Some harvests were stores, and others weren’t collected at all.  

New Idea Enterprises began buying excess green bananas from farmers. Once ripe, they are milled into a liquid. The liquid is boiled until all that remains are sugar crystals. The sugar can be used in coffee, tea, and regular cooking.  

New Idea Enterprise was a finalist in the Mekong Agritech Challenge (MATCh). MATCh is a program of the Mekong Business Initiative, a private sector development partnership of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia that equips entrepreneurs to scale and thrive.