Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw
She assumes charge over as Executive Director of the International Coconut Community, Jakarta, Indonesia since 2020. Prior to this appointment she was working as head of Collaboration and Dissemination Division of the Indonesian Division for Estate Crops Research and Development, Indonesia. She is an Entomologist by profession and with her 27 years of experience in the field of agriculture development, she is frequently providing technical assistance and consultancy for coconut development to farmers, coconut industries, students, lecturers and other governmental organizations. She is the author of many informative articles on coconut which were published in renowned international journals.

Speeches |  September, 2025

Building a Stronger Coconut Future: Innovation and Collaboration as the Pillars of Resilience

The global coconut industry is at a key moment. We have big problems to face, from old plantations that need replacement to dealing with serious pests, diseases, and the ever-changing climate. If we want the industry to thrive for decades to come, we must focus on science, innovation, and working together.

At the International Coconut Community (ICC), we see our role as the main connector, the organization that helps research turn into real-world action. Our priority is always to get these new and effective solutions directly into the hands of our smallholder farmers. While at the same time also enhances the coconut industry, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs. They are the true pillars of this sector, and their sustainability is our main concern as a global coconut community.

This focus on integrating science and policy was central to the busy month of August, when the ICC was deeply engaged across the region. We were encouraged by the energy and collaborative spirit demonstrated at the 2025 National Coconut Research and Development Congress (NCRDC) in the Philippines, wherein we presented ICC’s strategic framework, the “Tech-Policy-Cooperative Nexus,” emphasizing how sound policy empowers farmer cooperatives to adopt new technologies. The Philippines served to reinforce collaboration and reaffirm its commitment to host the 52^nd International COCOTECH Conference in 2026. The ICC delegation commended PCA and DOST-PCAARRD for the successful organization of the Congress.

Another significant highlight was the successful organization of the 1^st International COCOHEALTH Conference in Coimbatore, India. This groundbreaking event was essential for positioning coconut as a cornerstone of global health and nutrition. The conference brought together our Scientific Advisory Committee on Health (SACH) to prepare policy briefs advocating for strong scientific evidence on coconut's health claims.

The constant flow of innovation and the global reach of our works move beyond these major conferences, the ICC actively supported or participated in several other important events, such as strengthened knowledge exchange by hosting the EstCrops_Corner #17 webinar with experts from India and Indonesia, promoted investment by showcasing global opportunities at the Riau Investment Forum, supported education and research at the InCAFEE 2025 conference in Manado, joined the celebrations for World Coconut Day in Sri Lanka, which coincided with the launch of the Northern Coconut Triangle.

All of these activities, from the field to the laboratory and the marketplace, are paving the way for our most important decision-making platform. We must carry this momentum forward. I strongly encourage all our member countries and partners to prepare for our most important annual event: the 61^st Session and Ministerial Meeting, hosted by the International Coconut Community and the Government of Thailand, taking place from 18 - 21 November 2025, at The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam in Thailand. We look forward to gathering our leaders and partners there to finalize the consolidated plans and set a clear, strong course for a sustainable future, guided by policy and grounded in science.

Previous Speech