The International Coconut Community participated in a high-level consultative meeting hosted by the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) on 3 February 2026 to discuss prospective collaboration between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of France in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, and sustainable development. The ICC delegation was represented by Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Director General of ICC, and Mr. Nuwan Chinthaka, Deputy Director General, reaffirming ICC’s commitment to positioning the coconut sector within emerging international partnerships.
The meeting brought together an eminent group of stakeholders, including H.E. the Ambassador of France to Indonesia, the President Director of CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development), the Deputy CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), and senior representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), leading universities, Roemah Kelapa Indonesia, and private sector partners. The gathering served as a platform to align national development priorities with France’s “Year of Innovation” initiative, aimed at strengthening scientific and technological cooperation between the two nations.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation through Innovation
Opening the session, the French Ambassador emphasized that agriculture, maritime affairs, fisheries, and sustainable development have been designated as priority pillars of France–Indonesia cooperation. This strategic direction, endorsed at the highest political level, seeks to translate scientific excellence into tangible impacts for smallholders and rural communities. The Ambassador highlighted that CIRAD, as a globally recognized research institution, would play a central role in this process.
CIRAD President Director, Ms. Elisabeth Claverie de Saint Martin, reiterated the organization’s long-standing engagement in Indonesia and its focus on applied research, policy support, and farmer-centered innovation. She noted that Indonesia’s immense biodiversity and its position as a major producer of global commodities place the country at the forefront of addressing climate change, food security, and sustainable value chain development. These themes resonated strongly with ICC’s mandate to promote resilient and inclusive coconut economies across its member states.
Key Areas of Discussion
Deliberations centered on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between CIRAD and Bappenas in June 2025. Participants reviewed progress under ongoing initiatives, particularly a flagship project designed to enhance smallholder resilience and productivity through training, technical services, and the establishment of networks of master trainers. The project integrates climate-smart practices, pest and disease management, post-harvest quality improvement, and participatory policy development.
The Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) emphasized that future cooperation should be anchored in evidence-based policy making driven by science, strengthened through institutional capacity building to ensure researchers and officials are equipped for modern development challenges, and delivered through collaborative impact, where joint assessments and applied research translate into practical solutions for farmers and value chains.
Special attention was given to the need for genetic analysis and biodiversity conservation as foundations for sustainable agricultural transformation. Stakeholders agreed that international cooperation is essential to address transboundary challenges such as climate variability, emerging pests, and market volatility.
Positioning Coconut within the Strategic Agenda
During the discussion segment, ICC Director General Dr. Jelfina Alouw emphasized that the coconut sector must be fully integrated into the evolving cooperation framework. Coconut is a strategic crop for Indonesia and many ICC member countries, supporting millions of smallholders and contributing to food security, livelihoods, and export earnings. Dr. Alouw highlighted ICC’s ongoing initiatives in genetic resource conservation, value addition, youth empowerment, and climate-resilient farming systems, proposing strong synergies with CIRAD and AFD programs.
Also in her intervention, ICC Director General underscored ICC’s strong institutional basis for collaboration, noting that ICC already has a Memorandum of Understanding with CIRAD to advance cooperation. She emphasized ICC’s interest in partnering with CIRAD on genetic resource conservation in coconut, particularly to address practical constraints faced by the International Coconut Genebanks (ICGs). Dr. Alouw highlighted that managing the International Coconut Genebank for Southeast Asia (ICG-SEA), situated in Indonesia, remains challenging, and that germplasm exchange is a common constraint across countries due to biosafety and related regulatory restrictions. In this context, she welcomed the suggestion discussed during her visit to CIRAD office, on establishing a germplasm exchange intermediate center using CIRAD facilities, and affirmed ICC’s commitment to continue work with partners to explore this option in a practical and compliant manner.
She further noted that not only Indonesia, but many ICC member countries are currently unable to keep pace with the rapidly growing global demand for coconut products due to stagnant production trends, reinforcing the need for more collaborative and innovation-driven approaches across research, extension, and value chain development.
Representatives from Roemah Kelapa Indonesia and private sector partners echoed these views, pointing to growing global demand for sustainable coconut products and the need for stronger research–industry linkages. Discussions also explored opportunities for collaboration on geographical indications, traceability systems, and women-led agro-enterprises, areas already prioritized in ICC programs.
Towards a Joint Technical Framework
The meeting concluded with agreement to establish a joint technical team to operationalize the MoU and develop a detailed 2026 action plan. The team will map institutional roles, identify priority commodities, including coconut and design capacity-building modules aligned with Indonesia’s Long-Term Development Plan. Emphasis will be placed on moving beyond raw commodity exports toward high-value, resource-based industrialization, a direction strongly supported by ICC.
Bappenas officials expressed appreciation for ICC’s proactive engagement, recognizing the organization as a vital bridge between Indonesia and the wider coconut-producing world. The ICC delegation affirmed that collaboration with CIRAD and AFD could significantly advance ongoing efforts to revitalize coconut value chains, particularly through research on climate adaptation, genetic improvement, and inclusive business models.
A Milestone for Multilateral Cooperation
ICC’s participation in the Bappenas dialogue marks an important milestone in embedding the coconut sector within broader international development partnerships. The convergence of French scientific expertise, Indonesian policy leadership, and ICC’s regional mandate offers a unique opportunity to drive transformative change for millions of coconut farmers.
As the “Year of Innovation” unfolds, ICC looks forward to working closely with all partners to ensure that coconut receives due recognition as a strategic commodity for nutrition, renewable materials, and green economic growth. The organization remains committed to fostering science-based, farmer-centered solutions that contribute to resilient livelihoods and sustainable landscapes across member countries.