February 13, 2026

Bali, February 13, 2026 – The Ag4Tourism initiative under ACIAR in collaboration with Udayana University successfully convened a Multi-Stakeholder Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving approximately 60 participants from across Bali’s horticulture and HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, Café) value chain. The FGD aimed to address key structural challenges within the sector, including misaligned quality standards, inconsistent supply, and weak coordination among stakeholders. The activity also served as a platform to validate two key instruments designed to strengthen supply chain governance and technical alignment. The first instrument, the Inclusive, Collaborative, and Sustainable Supply Agreement (ICSSA), was introduced as a governance framework to improve coordination and define roles among stakeholders. The second focused on the development of standardized product specifications for key commodities, particularly lettuce and potatoes, to ensure consistency in quality and supply. Throughout the session, participants engaged in a series of presentations, group discussions, and plenary sessions. The discussions led to a… Read More »Multi-Stakeholder Focus Group Discussion (FGD): Inclusive, Collaborative and Sustainable Supply Agreement (ICSSA) and Product Specifications for the Bali HORECA

NORTH SULAWESI, 13 February 2026 – In a strategic move to cut post-harvest losses and improve product quality, a specialized research team conducted a high-level intervention visit to a local mushroom cultivation facility today. The visit, hosted at the farm of Mr. John Havelaar, focused on the critical window between harvest and market delivery for Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Bridging the Gap: From Farm to Table For mushroom farmers, the journey from the kumbung (traditional cultivation house) to the consumer’s plate is a race against time. Because mushrooms are highly perishable, the research team utilized this visit to evaluate the efficacy of experimental packaging treatments. These trials are designed to address three primary challenges in the mushroom supply chain: A Data-Driven Partnership The intervention highlights a successful collaboration between academic research and practical farming. By monitoring growth rates and the physical state of the mushrooms post-packaging, the team is gathering… Read More »Postharvest Intervention: Mushroom