Darwin, Australia, 21–26 September 2025 – The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) successfully convened its 9th General Assembly (GA), the 17th Session of the Board of Trustees Meeting, and the International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF) 2025, bringing together 71 local and international stakeholders to deliberate on the future of tropical fruit development and trade.
The General Assembly, chaired by Dr Muhammad Sohail Mazhar, Acting Senior Executive Director Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Northern Territory, Australia, provided a platform for member countries to review TFNet’s progress and future direction.
During the session, Malaysia which is represented by Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Malaysia, was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the TFNet Board of Trustees for the 2025–2028 term. His leadership is expected to further strengthen TFNet’s mandate as an international platform that promotes innovation, sustainability, and market access for tropical fruits.
The Progress Report and the TFNet Strategic Plan 2025–2030 were presented by TFNet CEO, Muhamed Salim Mohd Ali, who outlined the network’s achievements and its forward-looking strategies to enhance value chains, support member countries, and strengthen international partnerships in the tropical fruit sector.
Over the past three years, TFNet has achieved significant milestones, including:
- Publication of 17 issues of the TFNet Newsfeed and 508 articles, reaching more than 4,500 recipients worldwide.
- Organization of the International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF) 2023 in Guangzhou, China attended by 121 participants from 10 countries, and ISTF 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attended by 70 participants from 11 countries.
- Delivery of 4 international webinars, 1 international workshop, and 1 international study visit, benefiting a total of 870 participants globally.
The ISTF 2025, held in Darwin, Australia, featured experts, researchers, policymakers, and industry players who explored innovations and partnerships in tropical fruit production, highlighting strategies to strengthen value chains and expand global market access.
TFNet extends our sincere appreciation to our host counterpart, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Northern Territory Government, as well as its co-organizers – the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Northern Territory Farmers Association, and the Research Institute of Northern Agriculture of Charles Darwin University, Australia. TFNet also thanks the Malaysian Agriculture Counsellor’s Office in Sydney, Agri Malaysia, the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Australia, and Tourism Malaysia for their invaluable support in making the events a success.
