Transitioning Future
Small Farms in Indonesia
Transitioning Future
Small Farms in Indonesia
Transitioning Future
Small Farms in Indonesia
Best Practices for Agritech Startups & Wider Ecosystems
Best Practices for Agritech Startups
& Wider Ecosystems
Best Practices for Agritech Startups & Wider Ecosystems
Executive
Summary
This report is the first publication from a qualitative research project on agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation diffusion in Indonesia. The report summarises ten best practices that have emerged from over 100 interviews over four provinces, with a focus group workshop in each province. The project would not have been possible without the generous support from the Australian Government and our partners, especially Lestari by Pijar Foundation.
Through their networks we were able to promote the project and recruit a large number of participants from a very broad range of occupations across the ecosystem, all within four months of field work. To some extent, the process of collaborating with NGOs for this research illustrates first-hand the power of cross-sector partnerships to bridge the gap between innovation providers (e.g., startups) and farmers.
Executive
Summary
This report is the first publication from a qualitative research project on agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation diffusion in Indonesia. The report summarises ten best practices that have emerged from over 100 interviews over four provinces, with a focus group workshop in each province. The project would not have been possible without the generous support from the Australian Government and our partners, especially Lestari by Pijar Foundation.
Through their networks we were able to promote the project and recruit a large number of participants from a very broad range of occupations across the ecosystem, all within four months of field work. To some extent, the process of collaborating with NGOs for this research illustrates first-hand the power of cross-sector partnerships to bridge the gap between innovation providers (e.g., startups) and farmers.
Executive
Summary
This report is the first publication from a qualitative research project on agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation diffusion in Indonesia. The report summarises ten best practices that have emerged from over 100 interviews over four provinces, with a focus group workshop in each province. The project would not have been possible without the generous support from the Australian Government and our partners, especially Lestari by Pijar Foundation.
Through their networks we were able to promote the project and recruit a large number of participants from a very broad range of occupations across the ecosystem, all within four months of field work. To some extent, the process of collaborating with NGOs for this research illustrates first-hand the power of cross-sector partnerships to bridge the gap between innovation providers (e.g., startups) and farmers.
Top 10
Best Practices
Top 10
Best Practices
Top 10 Best Practices
The best practices described in this report have emerged via in-situ preliminary analysis of the agritech sector, with more rigorous analysis of the interviews and reports to follow. We also acknowledge that these ten best practices are not an exhaustive list, and that additional best practices may emerge with further analysis. We also note that the practices should be considered in combination with one another, and that their implementation will vary depending on the organisations involved (e.g. farmer, innovation provider or intermediary).
The best practices described in this report have emerged via in-situ preliminary analysis of the agritech sector, with more rigorous analysis of the interviews and reports to follow. We also acknowledge that these ten best practices are not an exhaustive list, and that additional best practices may emerge with further analysis. We also note that the practices should be considered in combination with one another, and that their implementation will vary depending on the organisations involved (e.g. farmer, innovation provider or intermediary).
The best practices described in this report have emerged via in-situ preliminary analysis of the agritech sector, with more rigorous analysis of the interviews and reports to follow. We also acknowledge that these ten best practices are not an exhaustive list, and that additional best practices may emerge with further analysis. We also note that the practices should be considered in combination with one another, and that their implementation will vary depending on the organisations involved (e.g. farmer, innovation provider or intermediary).
1
Arrange on-farm demonstrations
2
Offer insights that take the farmer’s point of view
3
Collaborate to enable effective farm financing and advisory
4
Create both in-person and online interactions
5
Prioritise farmer ROI
6
Aim for sustainable and seasonal growth
7
Leverage blended capital
8
Collaborate with NGOs to advocate for policy change
9
Collaborate with hubs of farmers
10
Be authentically sustainable
The best practices from this report benefitted from feedback on preliminary versions presented at the 2024 ISPIM Connects Conference in Osaka, Japan and the 2025 ACERE Conference in Melbourne, Australia. ISPIM is the International Society for Professional Innovation Management, formed in 1983, and is the world’s oldest, largest and most active truly global innovation network. ACERE is the Australasian Consortium for Entrepreneurship Research Excellence, a newly formed society to support the ACERE conference which is now in its 21st year of operations, with a majority of international researchers.
As we review the interview data with increasing rigour, we expect to publish subsequent findings via journal articles and other forms of knowledge exchange.
While this study has focussed on the Indonesian context, we believe that the findings are relevant to farmers and agritech innovators in other parts of the world. As the importance of this sector grows, we look forward to future collaborations and opportunities for Indonesia’s agricultural innovation ecosystem and rural entrepreneurship to bloom and be sustained.
The best practices from this report benefitted from feedback on preliminary versions presented at the 2024 ISPIM Connects Conference in Osaka, Japan and the 2025 ACERE Conference in Melbourne, Australia. ISPIM is the International Society for Professional Innovation Management, formed in 1983, and is the world’s oldest, largest and most active truly global innovation network. ACERE is the Australasian Consortium for Entrepreneurship Research Excellence, a newly formed society to support the ACERE conference which is now in its 21st year of operations, with a majority of international researchers.
As we review the interview data with increasing rigour, we expect to publish subsequent findings via journal articles and other forms of knowledge exchange.
While this study has focussed on the Indonesian context, we believe that the findings are relevant to farmers and agritech innovators in other parts of the world. As the importance of this sector grows, we look forward to future collaborations and opportunities for Indonesia’s agricultural innovation ecosystem and rural entrepreneurship to bloom and be sustained.
The best practices from this report benefitted from feedback on preliminary versions presented at the 2024 ISPIM Connects Conference in Osaka, Japan and the 2025 ACERE Conference in Melbourne, Australia. ISPIM is the International Society for Professional Innovation Management, formed in 1983, and is the world’s oldest, largest and most active truly global innovation network. ACERE is the Australasian Consortium for Entrepreneurship Research Excellence, a newly formed society to support the ACERE conference which is now in its 21st year of operations, with a majority of international researchers.
As we review the interview data with increasing rigour, we expect to publish subsequent findings via journal articles and other forms of knowledge exchange.
While this study has focussed on the Indonesian context, we believe that the findings are relevant to farmers and agritech innovators in other parts of the world. As the importance of this sector grows, we look forward to future collaborations and opportunities for Indonesia’s agricultural innovation ecosystem and rural entrepreneurship to bloom and be sustained.
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