Researchers and rural producers from Colombia and Indonesia explored opportunities to strengthen cassava production and processing during a technical exchange held in Malang, Indonesia, in July 2026.
The exchange was part of the Scientific and Technical Support for Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN Countries (3S) project, an initiative of the Government of Italy funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The project aims to strengthen sustainable agriculture and value chains for cassava, maize and sugarcane, which are strategic crops for food security in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
The exchange brought together researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), representatives from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the University of Milan, the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency. Producers, artisanal processors and about 15 women from rural communities in Malang also participated.
Traditional Cassava Faces Growing Demand
Malang's volcanic landscape supports small-scale farms and a diverse range of crops. Many families produce cassava, maize, sugarcane and rice while also processing agricultural products through family-run enterprises.
During technical visits, participants documented 10 traditional cassava products: tape singkong, gatot, jemblem, lemet, miler or samiler, mocaf, kerupuk, kolak singkong, tiwul and aneka stick.
Tape singkong has particular cultural significance and is consumed especially during Ramadan. It also is increasingly sold in international markets. At the same time, the area devoted to cassava production in the region has declined, creating a supply challenge as demand grows.
The exchange identified opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen connections between producers and processors, diversify cassava products and develop a value chain capable of responding to emerging markets.
Women Drive Innovation in Cassava Processing
Women play a central role in Malang's cassava value chain, carrying out much of the peeling, fermentation, preparation and packaging of traditional products. Some of these activities could be improved through safer and more efficient tools, infrastructure and processing methods.
As part of the exchange, the 3S project organized a hands-on workshop for 15 women producers. María Alejandra Ospina, a researcher with the Alliance's Cassava Program, shared work from Colombia involving biofortification, flour processing and new food product development.
Participants prepared waffles, pancakes, muffins and ice cream using flour made from biofortified yellow-fleshed cassava. The cassava is a natural source of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. The recipes demonstrated potential new uses for cassava and products that could appeal to children, young people and other consumer groups.
Shared Expertise Creates New Opportunities
The exchange combined Indonesia's expertise in fermentation and traditional foods with Colombia's experience in cassava biofortification, flour production and food product development.
The collaboration emphasized the importance of developing sustainable solutions with communities rather than simply transferring technologies or practices from one country to another. Local conditions, preferences, capabilities and market opportunities are key considerations in developing viable value chains.
The workshop was an initial step toward further collaboration. Additional work could focus on validating products with communities, improving processing methods, evaluating food quality and nutritional value, assessing consumer acceptance, providing access to appropriate technologies and strengthening business and marketing capabilities.
With additional technical assistance and resources, the ideas developed in Malang could support community-based cassava production and marketing models. The lessons also could inform similar initiatives in other Indonesian communities and ASEAN countries facing comparable challenges.
The exchange supports the Alliance's 2026-2030 Resilient Futures strategy, including its focus on inclusive food economies and healthy diets. It also places gender equity at the center of efforts to strengthen cassava value chains by involving women in product development, recipe testing and decisions about how the crop can create greater opportunities for their families and communities.
Source: Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, "Women, Innovation, and Cassava: An Exchange of Knowledge Between Colombia and Indonesia"