A market researcher in horticulture from the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food Fiona Goss will leave for Indonesia next week (Oct 1) to assist with optimising the sustainability and productivity of the vegetable cropping system in Central and West Java.

Ms Goss will go to Indonesia as part of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) programme for the next four months.

She will collaboratively work with the Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI) and visiting Australian scientists on a survey of potato farmers and agribusiness groups involved in the highland vegetable production systems.

Ms Goss said the project would focus on improving the livelihoods of resource poor vegetable farmers in the highlands area of Central and West Java

“The growers in Central and West Java are responsible for providing over 50 per cent of the country’s vegetable crops and I am looking forward to discussing with them, the various challenges involved in highland vegetable production systems,” Ms Goss said.

Fiona will work with IVEGRI to design and conduct a baseline survey with farmers to better understand the production practices and how these might be modified to achieve higher yield, higher quality and ultimately better returns for farmers.

In conjunction with IVEGRI, Fiona will also consider how all players along the food supply chain can better integrate to maintain quality and reduce wastage.

“It’s hoped that as their local industry grows, Western Australia will be able to provide seed potatoes,” Ms Goss said.

Fiona has a degree in Agribusiness Management (Horticulture), and over 5 years professional experience in market research and development, information knowledge management and communications in both private and public sector agribusiness organisations.