We wish you all a happy 2019!
On behalf of the TFNet Chairman and Board of Trustees, the Secretariat would like to thank all esteemed members, partners, and stakeholders for your fruitful cooperation in 2018.
A fruitful 2018
In 2018, TFNet continued its mandate and role to promote the sustainable global development of tropical fruits in relation to production, consumption, and trade; progressing well towards the achievement of goals detailed in the TFNet Strategic Plan (2015-2020).
TFNet’s 7th General Assembly (GA) held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on the 24th of September 2018 brought together delegates from eight member countries including two Associate Members, a representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and a number of Ordinary Members and Observers. As the sole global network on tropical fruits, the Assembly recognized and advocated TFNet’s role to positively contribute to the development of the tropical fruit industry.
TFNet acknowledges the value of partnerships for its work and continues to build linkages with other relevant partners in the region particularly those related to its fields of work. The most notable ones in 2018 included partnership meetings with TFNet Associate Members such as Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to discuss and explore potential synergies of work areas. TFNet also convened meetings with Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) to follow up on potential areas of collaboration.
In 2018, one of TFNet’s successful collaborations included the inaugural International Conference on Tropical Fruit Pests and Diseases (TROPED 2018) which was held in partnership with the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) of University Malaysia Sabah, Sabah State Department of Agriculture and Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on the 25-27 September 2018. The conference which drew a total of 106 participants from 14 countries around the world deliberated on topics such as new and emerging tropical fruits pests and diseases, challenges in biosecurity, biological control, biotechnology, and plant protection.
2018 also welcomed changes in the composition of the Board of Trustees. Dato’ Mohd Sallehhuddin bin Hassan, the new Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry (MOA) was appointed as Chairman of TFNet’s Board of Trustees. TFNet also welcomed on board Mr. David Kolitagane, as the new representative of Fiji, Dr. Ir. Suwandi MS as the new representative of Indonesia, and Dr. Mohamad Roff Mohd Noor as the new expert member of the Board.
TFNet expresses its gratitude and thanks to Mr. Robert Williams for representing Australia from 2012-2018, Dr. Hannah Jaenicke for being an expert member of the Board from 2015-2018, and Dr. Desa Hassim for helming TFNet as CEO from 2015-2018.
The way forward: 2019
The growing demand for exotic fruits opens up vast opportunities for tropical fruit producing nations to explore. Despite setbacks in the global production of tropical fruits due to climatic irregularities, trade has picked up in the recent months for various tropical fruits of importance. The competitive global trade of tropical fruits serves to boost national economies and improve the food basket. FAO’s Food Outlook 2018 also reports of growing opportunities for minor tropical fruits such as the guava, jackfruit, longan, durian, rambutan and mangosteen.
These opportunities and trends will frame the work and focus of TFNet for 2019 and beyond. As we usher in the new year, TFNet as a global network will continue to strengthen its engagement with partners, members and industry stakeholders for the greater good of the tropical fruit industry. TFNet’s activities for 2019 are aligned with its core mission of facilitating international cooperation and aimed for filling in important gaps of knowledge and building of capacities of member countries.
One such activity planned for 2019 is the International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF 2019) which will be held in collaboration with Vietnamese stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Fruit And Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI) and Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This will mark the second major TFNet event in Vietnam after the International Symposium on Superfruits: Myth or Truth? held in 2013.
For capacity building, a series of seminars and workshops has been planned in member countries including one proposed activity on pineapple in Malaysia, a training program on dragon fruit production technologies in Vietnam, and a workshop on the management of the banana fusarium wilt in China. TFNet also plans to organize a follow-up activity on the 2016 workshop on Revitalizing the Malaysian Tropical Fruit Industry: Enhancing Linkages between Small-Scale Producers and Other Stakeholders in the Value Chain.
An exciting agenda awaits all TFNet members for 2019 and TFNet looks forward to accomplishing greater success with all esteemed members for the year ahead.
Have a productive 2019!