ACCESS Development Services Hosted GAP Fund Grantees Meet to Scale Agroecology Enterprises

ACCESS Development Services organized the GAP Fund Grantees Meet 2025 — two-day platform bringing together innovators, farmer producer collectives, and social enterprises working across agroecology. The Grant for Agroecology Program (GAP) Fund by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), managed by ACCESS Development Services is an investment grant program in India that provides funding initiative customized to strengthen farmer producer organizations (FPOs), agri-enterprises, and social businesses working in agroecology.

The program is designed to highlight innovations in sustainable agriculture, from waste-to-wealth solutions, spices, aromatic oils, fruits, millets, and livestock management to traceability and while connecting enterprises with investors and policymakers.

The inaugural session featured special addresses by Mr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS Development Services, and Mr. James Marc deSousa Shields, Country Director, IFAD, alongside a welcome address by Mr. Vivek Sinha, Team Lead, GAP Fund.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Vipin Sharma, CEO of ACCESS Development Services said, “The Fund is helping enterprises not only grow commercially but also demonstrate how ecological approaches can create sustainable and resilient agri-value chains.” He remarked “With mentoring and capacity support, these enterprises can scale, demonstrate impact, and influence broader national strategies on food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.”

Mr. James Mark D’Souza Sheets, the Country Director of IFAD underscored the private sector’s role in bridging the $300 billion annual global financing gap for sustainable agriculture. He stressed that resilient food systems cannot be achieved without business participation, adding, “Your work not only helps you prosper but also provides valuable lessons on how sustainability can be achieved at scale. Our ambition is to integrate your experiences into larger programs with state and national governments.” He also announced IFAD’s plans to present success stories from the GAP Fund ensuring international visibility for grassroots innovations.

Mr. Andrew MacPherson, consultant, IFAD, closely associated with the Fund since its inception, described it as “one of the most innovative and impactful projects” of his career in agricultural development. He emphasized the importance of designing interventions that allow farmers to work with enterprises to adopt agroecological approaches effectively.

Key highlights of the inaugural day included a panel discussion on “What does an investor look for in agroecology enterprises?” that featured leading voices such as Mr. Hemendra Mathur, Venture Capitalist & Co-Founder, ThinkAg, Mr. Partho Saha, Ex-CGM NABARD, Mr. Krishan Jindal, Ex-CGM NABARD, and Mr. Arindom Datta, Senior Advisor – Sustainability, Agribusiness & Technology. Speakers across the sessions underscored the urgent need to reimagine agriculture considering climate change, water scarcity, and market volatility. They stressed that while several government programs are promoting agroecology, stronger models and demonstrable results are needed to influence policies and markets at scale.

The second day of the meet focused on cross-learning between grantees, with sessions on Technology and Innovation in Agroecology, addressed by Mr. Puran Singh Rajput (EF Polymer), Mr. Shrilesh Mande (Industill Farmtech), and Mr. Amandeep Panwar (BharatRohan Airborne Innovations). A special session by Professor Harish Chaudhary of IIT Delhi further explored how branding and packaging add value to agribusiness.

The Grantees Meet 2025 reaffirmed ACCESS Development Services’ commitment to fostering innovation and building resilient, sustainable agriculture enterprises that empower farmers and communities.