From 6 to 9 May 2025, Prof. Dr. Steven Underhill, a postharvest expert, consultant for the Fiji Government and representative of the Pacific Island communities visited Malaysia to explore research collaborations and institutional partnerships aimed at strengthening agricultural development in the Pacific Islands. The visit facilitated by TFNet included engagements with key Malaysian research institutions to discuss postharvest innovations and potential collaborative projects.
The main purposes of his visit were:
- Engagement with Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute focused on MARDI’s operational model as a potential framework for restructuring Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture Research Divisions.
- Exploratory discussion with TFNet on initiatives to expand TFNet’s involvement, such as online capacity building activities in tropical fruits development across the Pacific Islands.
- To have a discussion with the postharvest unit of University Putra Malaysia (UPM) to explore and identify opportunities for joint research and knowledge exchange in postharvest technologies.
- To meet with other international organizations based in Malaysia such as CABI to explore partnerships benefitting Pacific Island communities.
Over the 3-day visit, Prof. Steven held productive discussions with MARDI corporate communications division and postharvest section, the TFNet Secretariat, the Postharvest section at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) and CAB International. All meetings highlighted future collaboration in postharvest research and capacity building programs to support Pacific Island agriculture.
Prof. Dr. Steven, expressed his deep appreciation to TFNet for arranging the highly successful visit and looked forward to materializing the proposed partnerships in the near future. The visit reinforced potential long-term cooperation between Malaysian institutions, TFNet, and CABI and the Pacific Islands in advancing sustainable agricultural practices.
