LightCastle Partners & SAF Bangladesh Co-Host Bangladesh Agro Conclave 2025
LightCastle Marketing Wing
May 26, 2025
In a pivotal effort to align policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators, LightCastle Partners and Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh (SAF Bangladesh) jointly organized the Bangladesh Agro Conclave 2025 on May 25, 2025, at Amari Dhaka. The event served as a national platform to address systemic challenges and opportunities in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector, focusing on global competitiveness, technology adoption, and inclusive growth.
Under the theme “Unlocking Bangladesh’s Agri-Potential for Global Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth,” the conclave brought together government stakeholders, agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, financial institutions, and development partners to translate insights into actionable strategies for the agro-processing and farming sectors.
The event commenced with an inaugural address by Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Honorable Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, who shared that the government in developing the Agriculture Future Outlook Plan 2050. Emphasizing the need for inclusive digitization, he stated:
“Modern precision agriculture must be integrated coherently with our socio-economic scenario—we cannot leave our root-level farmers behind.”
A cornerstone of this plan is the upcoming ‘Khamari App’, an AI-driven platform to provide farmers with real-time crop advisories and market data, ensuring technology reaches grassroots communities.
In the inauguration session, Dr. M. A. Sattar Mandal, Emeritus Professor and Former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), outlined critical priorities for Bangladesh’s agricultural transformation:
“Our yield gaps and trade imbalances demand urgent action. With new actors—startups, tech innovators, and investors—entering the agri-sector, we must adopt models like the ‘Rentier Contractor System’ to scale productivity without displacing smallholders.”
He emphasized Bangladesh’s changing agricultural ecology: “The ‘new ecology’ in Bangladesh has been developing: longer dry seasons, inconsistent rainfall patterns – which requires us to take new initiatives and innovation. While global warming presents challenges, it also creates unexpected opportunities to reimagine agricultural systems.”
Lincoln Teo, Founder of iWise and Managing Director of ZERO13), stressed the urgency of tech-driven solutions in agriculture, particularly in the face of climate change:
“Digital innovation has never been more vital—we’re seeing IoT enable farmers with disabilities in Singapore to participate fully in food production. Working with climate-impacted communities has shown how urgently we need scalable solutions.” Teo also highlighted the conclave’s role in fostering collaboration: “This platform connects policymakers, industry leaders, and farmers to turn ideas into tangible progress for Bangladesh’s agricultural future.”
Key Panel Discussions: Insights and Takeaways
The conclave featured three high-impact panel discussions, each addressing critical levers for transforming Bangladesh’s agricultural ecosystem:
1. Boosting Global Export Competitiveness
The discussion began withShubham Roy (Lead, Growth & Innovation, LightCastle Partners) presenting insights on export barriers, emphasizing structural challenges like high freight costs, weak traceability systems, cold storage issues, and lack of branding – setting the stage for the panelists to share their views and recommendations on certification, infrastructure and value chain reforms.” In the first panel, moderated by Bijon Islam, (CEO, LightCastle Partners), experts discussed strategies to enhance Bangladesh’s agro-exports.
Dr. Razu Ahmed, (Department of Agricultural Marketing) has underscored the Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to collaborate with the private sector to accelerate exports by addressing key obstacles, including high freight costs and cold storage limitations. However, he noted persistent challenges such as land scarcity for cold storage facilities and buyers’ reluctance to cover associated costs. Expressing optimism, Dr Ahmed highlighted untapped market potential, particularly in products like white sesame seeds cultivated in river-shore areas. “We remain hopeful about the potential of unexplored markets, such as working with white sesame seeds from river-shore regions,” he said.
Prof. Abu Noman Faruq Ahmmed (Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University) identified Bangladesh’s voluntary agricultural certification system as a barrier to EU market access, stressing the need for mandatory GAP compliance. He advocated for streamlined one-stop service and stronger public-private partnerships while noting the sector’s promising growth through youth involvement and women’s participation. The government should establish specialized support cells and product-specific agreements to capitalize on the emerging opportunities.
Mohammed Monsur (General Secretary, Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters Association) noted that while Bangladesh produces high-quality mangoes, inconsistent transport costs, lack of cold storage at airports, and absent quality regulations hinder exports. He proposed establishing a central agricultural hub near airports, stabilizing freight costs through collaboration, and mandating GlobalGAP certifications to boost global competitiveness.
Ataus Sopan Malik (MD, A R Malik Seeds) emphasized Bangladesh’s agricultural potential, stating: “Our farmers need training on precise pesticide use and optimized post-harvest logistics – these two changes alone could transform Bangladesh into a global agri-export leader.” He highlighted the country’s untapped advantage – unlike other nations scaling back agriculture, Bangladesh’s strong farming foundation remains its competitive edge.
Akib Kamal (Meridian Group) emphasized the need for quality packaging and market-driven approaches that protect producers’ interests. He noted that, unlike the RMG sector, the agri-export ecosystem suffers from stakeholder misalignment and highlighted community development as a critical pillar for sustainable growth.
2. Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture
The session opened with a keynote presentation by Abdur Rouf (Director, Program Development, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation), who framed the discussion by emphasizing “the critical need to build women’s capacity and engage all stakeholders – public and private sectors alike – for optimum growth of Bangladesh’s agricultural ecosystem.” He moderated the second session where panelists explored gender-sensitive financing, agri-tech solutions, and youth engagement.
“Label women as farmers, not laborers,” urged Rahul Mathew (Deputy Director, World Vision Bangladesh), noting <4% access to finance despite their pivotal role. True empowerment requires systems designed with them — especially indigenous and coastal women — to transform communities.
Kashfiaa Ahmed (CEO, Win Incorporate) revealed many women entrepreneurs lack even mobile access, forcing reliance on husbands for basic services. Her solution? Doorstep service delivery and apps like Khamari to digitally unite women across sectors.
Sharawwat Islam (Truvalu Bangladesh) “Women need collateral-free financing with climate-smart solutions,” said Sharawwat, highlighting the need for orange bonds, CSR funds, and blended finance to close the gap between rural entrepreneurs and impact investors.
Md. Mahmudur Rahman (Co-founder & CEO, WeGro) highlighted that despite Bangladesh Bank’s mandate for 15% micro-credit financing, a vast majority of farmers—especially women—remain unbanked due to high interest rates, complex financial instruments, and mobility barriers. He stressed the need for simplified, jargon-free financial services and more accessible micro-credit systems to bridge the financing gap in agriculture.
3. Strengthening Food Safety Systems
The discussion was preceded by a keynote from Priyo Pranto, Senior Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners, who highlighted how temperature-controlled logistics (TCL) could revolutionize food safety, reduce post-harvest losses, and uplift rural smallholders in Bangladesh’s livestock and dairy sectors. The final panel was moderated by Zahedul Amin (Managing Director & Co-founder, LightCastle Partners), and this discussion highlighted policy frameworks, cold chain innovations, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to strengthen protein and dairy value chains:
Md. Mahbubur Rahman (Director General, FPMU) emphasized that food safety challenges exist across the entire supply chain—from production to consumer demand. While regulations like the Food Safety Act 2015 are in place, lack of awareness and poor market linkages hinder their effectiveness. He also warned of broader environmental threats, including declining soil fertility, harmful handling practices in wet markets, and the long-term risks posed by urbanization and topsoil erosion. He cited alarming examples like chemical misuse in live fish transport causing economic and environmental damage, and warned about topsoil depletion from urbanization. However, he affirmed that “the regulatory framework is in place” through the Food Safety Act, providing a foundation for systematic improvements to protect both consumers and the agriculture sector.
A.T.M. Mostafa Kamal (Secretary, BPICC) highlighted gaps in food safety practices, especially in traditional wet markets, and advocated for transitioning to regulated retail models like supermarkets. He noted shifting consumer behavior among youth and stressed the need to embed rigorous halal and safety standards in domestic markets to meet both local and global expectations. “If we can phase out wet markets in certain areas and replace them with regulated outlets, we can ensure both safety and consumer trust — it’s not just about meeting demand, it’s about shaping it responsibly,” he stated.
Ahmad Asif (CEO, Bengal Meat) emphasized the critical role of cold chain infrastructure in preserving the nutritional integrity and safety of meat products, especially in a country with deep-rooted meat consumption habits. He pointed out major gaps in awareness, policy advocacy, and high utility costs hindering cold chain adoption. “Cold chain isn’t a luxury — it’s a safety prerequisite. From slaughterhouse to shelf, it must be seamless and affordable if we truly care about what’s on our plates,” he urged.
Nurul Siddiquee (CoP, ACDI/VOCA) stressed the importance of a systems-level transformation in the livestock sector, with a balanced approach to disease control, cold chain infrastructure, and responsible antibiotic use. He highlighted recent progress like successful goat vaccination programs, while noting the persistent risks of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. “True reform in livestock means investing in data, diagnostics, and behavior change — because the health of our animals is ultimately tied to the health of our people,” he stated.
Innovation Showcase: Agri-Tech Revolution in Action
The conclave featured live demonstrations of cutting-edge solutions, including:
Prof. Dr. Md. Zaved Hossain Khan from Jashore University explained how their Nano-Urea Liquid Fertilizer—a standout exhibit—boosts yields by 8–14% while being cost-effective for smallholders and supporting zero-carbon farming.
Agronochain Ltd., represented by CEO & Co-Founder Imtiaz Farhan Bin Habib, showcased their blockchain/AI platform (Amanot App) that empowers farmers by bridging supply-demand gaps (aligned with SDGs 2,9,10). Their service model ensures secure transactions, helping farmers “earn more and scale sustainably.”
Cultive8 Technologies Limited, under CEO Shamim Murad, displayed their mobile-based field operation tools that reduce quality variance by 35% through digital payrolls and Bluetooth-enabled quality checks.
InsureCow Ltd., represented by Co-founder & CEO Tasvir Ahmad Faheem, exhibited their pioneering biometric livestock identification system using cattle muzzle prints – the first such solution in Southeast Asia.
Each demonstration highlighted how Bangladeshi innovators are combining technology with grassroots understanding to solve pressing agricultural challenges.
Additionally, attendees explored interactive demonstration stalls from NAME Lab and Planten, where representatives showcased their agricultural innovations through live product demonstrations and hands-on experiences.
Collaborative Commitments for Agricultural Transformation
The conclave culminated in a shared action agenda, prioritizing:
Scaling tech adoption among small farmers
Enhancing export readiness through policy and certification support
Strengthening gender-inclusive value chains – Empowering Women & Smallholders
Strengthening Food Safety Systems
Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture through strategic collaboration
The event concluded with a strong consensus among participants about the need for continued public-private dialogue and knowledge sharing to drive Bangladesh’s agricultural modernization. Speakers emphasized that the solutions discussed at the conclave must now translate into concrete actions through coordinated efforts between government agencies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.
With these commitments, Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is poised to transition into a globally competitive, sustainable ecosystem that can meet both domestic food security needs and international market demands.
