Overview
Cassava is an important staple food in many parts of the world but in South-East Asia, it is also grown for industrial starch production, animal feed and biofuel. Cassava exports from Vietnam in 2017 were valued at more than US$1 billion. For some smallholder farmers, cassava contributes 50% or more to their household income, so global market trends and shocks can lead to price uncertainty for farmers and directly impact their livelihood.
In partnership with research organisations in Australia and overseas, ACIAR has supported multifaceted research on cassava for more than 10 years. The ACIAR Cassava Value Chain and Livelihood Program consists of two interlinked projects implemented by the University of Queensland in partnership with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and national partners across South-East Asia. One of the key features of the program was knowledge and information sharing between the public and private sectors, researchers and the development sector across Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The program built an environment and convened events where diverse participants across the cassava industry could discuss challenges. The most significant event was a regional research symposium in July 2019, held in Indonesia.
These proceedings collate the presentations and discussions from the symposium, and serve as a record of the positive and fruitful interactions between symposium participants.
