The Indonesian Agricultural Research Alliance (APPERTANI) and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) conducted a meeting on Monday, February 14, 2022 using the Zoom meeting link ID 970 2585 9687 which was attended by 21 participants from both parties. The main agenda of the meeting is to discuss the cooperation plan carried out by ACIAR and Syngenta which will be carried out by APPERTANI, as well as introductions.

Julianne Biddle explained that, ACIAR’s vision is to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, through more productive and sustainable agriculture from collaborative research internationally. ACIAR works with partners to ensure that research for its development programs is fair, inclusive and empowering. Especially with Indonesia, ACIAR has 38 years of experience working together. One of the ACIAR and Syngenta activities that will be carried out by APPERTANI in 2022 is aimed at understanding public sector research activities and their funding in supporting innovation to address the gap in the agri-food system in Indonesia.

In the introduction of Prof. Irsal Las, the head of APPERTANI assured its readiness to cooperate with ACIAR. It was further explained that APPERTANI is a non-profit organization consisting of experts in the field of agricultural research which was established on November 20, 2020 and has obtained legality from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia. The tagline for APPERTANI is “Agriculture Innovations and Solutions”. This alliance may be a young organization, but has members who are experienced and experts in their fields and are ready to provide professionals in the wider field of agriculture. APPERTANI can play a role, not only during the transition period of the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN), even after the BRIN scheme is operational and is ready to hold follow-up meetings with small groups.