By Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali, CEO, International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
In the world of tropical agriculture, major fruits such as banana, mango, and pineapple have long been central to global trade, shaping markets and providing livelihoods for millions. Alongside these well-established commodities lies an extraordinary diversity of minor tropical fruits — rambutan, jackfruit, mangosteen, langsat, pulasan, and many more. They are rich in nutritional value, cultural heritage, and market potential.
Yet despite their promise, the journey of minor tropical fruits into international markets is often slowed by barriers to trade: fragmented certification requirements, lengthy customs clearance, and inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
This brings us to a vision worth considering: what if we could pioneer a “Green Lane for Minor Tropical Fruits”?
The idea is not to establish a binding trade agreement, but rather to imagine a facilitation pathway where member countries and stakeholders may wish to collaborate to:
- Fast-track customs clearance for selected minor tropical fruits;
- Harmonize SPS standards and promote mutual recognition of certification systems;
- Leverage digital tools such as e-certification and traceability platforms; and
- Pilot trade corridors to test the concept and showcase its benefits.
By introducing such a mechanism, even on a small scale, we could help unlock new markets, provide better returns to farmers, and promote more diversified, resilient fruit value chains. A green lane would not only reduce inefficiencies but also raise the profile of minor tropical fruits as important contributors to global diets and sustainable trade.
Of course, this remains a long-term idea. It will require further dialogue, policy support, and strong partnerships across governments, industry, and development agencies. But every transformative initiative has to begin somewhere.
At TFNet, we remain committed to exploring innovative pathways that ensure all tropical fruits — whether major or minor — can play their part in building sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready food systems.