6th APEC App Challenge: Coding for the Bio-Circular-Green Economy

The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) Secretariat, APEC Thailand 2022, and Google, hosted the sixth edition of the APEC App Challenge in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 19th. The annual event brings app developers from the 21 APEC member economies to build digital solutions for pressing social problems. As part of this year’s APEC focus on advancing the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy, app developers were challenged to create online tools to help farmers and entrepreneurs in the food supply chain adopt green, inclusive, and sustainable practices.

The Asia Foundation’s Environment and Climate Action program director, Kim DeRidder, provided the keynote address for the opening event. DeRidder opens with provocative questions and alarming statistics as context for the emergence of the green economy dialogue. He notes trends of growing consumption and shrinking availability of resources on a planet increasingly at risk from climate change. He discusses the BCG economy, breaking down its components and merit as an integrative concept. For the app challengers, DeRidder explores app development opportunities for agriculture through the BCG lens. 

Watch the full session