BioTrade Development
in South East Asia
Severe biodiversity loss in South East Asia
We believe BioTrade development is key in Southeast Asia.
Loss of biodiversity is a worldwide threat. However, in Southeast Asia deforestation rates are critically endangering the region’s biodiversity even though this region houses six of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots.
Biodiversity is vital to the livelihoods of communities. The sustainable use of biodiversity resources is important for both long-term economic development and the future of our planet. Biodiverse ecosystems also provide water and soil retention and pollination.
Developing biodiversity-related opportunities is core to ProFound’s activities
Over the years, ProFound has built up relevant BioTrade expertise creating economic opportunities while protecting our Earth’s biodiversity. We work with local communities and our partners, such as Helvetas, TRAFFIC, Flora Fauna International and UNCTAD BioTrade and private sector players, to develop value chains that strengthen ecosystems.
What are BioTrade products? In our work, we use UNCTAD’s definition: ‘Products which are collected, produced, transformed and commercialised and are derived from species of native biodiversity under the criteria of environmental, social and economic sustainability.
We consider native and naturalised, wild-collected, and cultivated plants that enrich or maintain biodiversity. Key aspects in BioTrade development are sustainable cultivation, harvesting practices, and their certification, as well as benefit-sharing with producing communities and knowledge holders.
BioTrade products:
Collection, production, transformation and commercialisation under social, environmental and economic sustainability.
“ProFound has been a key partner for the development of the BioTrade Initiative – both in terms of developing strategies and tools for effective programmes, as well as in implementing activities within these programmes.”
BioTrade development in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
To create biodiversity-related economic opportunities for entrepreneurs, ProFound contributes expertise to the Helvetas implemented and SECO-financed Regional BioTrade Project in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The project intends to create business models for sustainably sourced, traceable, and value-added natural ingredients.
Helvetas and ProFound identified current bottlenecks among value chain actors operating in the BioTrade sector. Many of these issues originate in a lack of ability to translate market opportunities into business and export planning. These include inefficient value chain management; low levels of food safety and compliance and understanding of CSR; difficult access to finance and R&D support; lacking of knowledge of international markets and market access requirements and weak marketing capacities of small and medium enterprises.
“ProFound worked together with the Helvetas teams in researching the possibilities for BioTrade. Their help with the desk research, field work and reporting has been very useful in the completion of the inception phase of the project.”
ProFound’s BioTrade Services
Transforming developing countries SMEs into International Markets Exporters
We are a team of experts in developing sustainable value chains for natural ingredients for food, cosmetics and health. We support sustainable sourcing and link natural ingredients producers to the market.
Depending on the export-readiness of the companies and the maturity of their products we divide our services portfolio in three main solutions:
Market Analysis
ProFound delivers complete and up-to-date research about the agricultural and natural ingredients sectors. We translate our findings into concrete actions and recommendations. To pave the road for next steps towards successful market entry and/or sector development. Our studies are always tailor-made, reader-friendly and ready-to-use.
Compliance
To access new markets, suppliers need to meet requirements of those markets and business partners. Buyers expect safe, traceable, sustainable and well-documented products. To meet these expectations, compliance is vital. ProFound assists companies and support organisations in developing products and production processes to become compliant with market requirements.
Market Entry
Suppliers in emerging countries face challenges in (international) market access. We support businesses and support organisations in developing market entry strategies. We build their capacity to implement these strategies. We tailor our work to the client’s ambitions, specific objectives, and export experience and capacities. Besides, we help companies find their best match in local, regional or international markets.
Market Entry
The BioTrade Asia Pavilion
BioTrade Asia Pavilion at BioFach – The meeting place for BioTrade and Organic Asian exporters with BioFach visitors
The BioTrade Asia Pavilion at BioFach is a recent initiative from ProFound.
ProFound’s expertise in BioTrade development in Southeast Asia, in addition to its wide network of buyers makes it a reliable partner to support Asian companies in promoting their products at BioFach.
Our unique offer for trade fairs:
Pre-fair
- Export readiness assessment: We will assess if you are ready to participate at BioFach and at the BioTrade Asia Pavilion
- Digital Marketing and online presence preparation
- Trade fair preparation
During the fair
- Advice and on-site training on trade fair participation
- Organising your stand within the pavilion with a professional concept, look and feel
- Professional company/country promotion
- Documentation support, matchmaking, competitor tours
After the fair
- Follow up webinars
- Advice and support on the matchmkaing process
- Permanent online promotion
- Associated online platforms
Meet the co-exhibitors of The BioTrade Asia Pavilion 2021 :
“Participating in the BioFach Asia Pavilion was our first time in an international trade fair. This event was not only an important platform to advertise our products, but it also provided us with the opportunity to connect with potential buyers. The event was also a good opportunity for us to get real opinions on the uniqueness of our products.”
Rising awareness of Myanmar’s and Lao’s high quality teas:
Interested in joining the BioTrade Asia Pavilion?
The pavilion is open to professional suppliers of certified organic products. We focus on value-added natural ingredients for the food and health sector and speciality food products.
Applications for joining the 2022 version will open soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.