Shaping the Future of Pepper Through Collective Action

Towards the 54th Annual Session and Meetings of the International Pepper Community

Dear Distinguished Delegates, Representatives of Member Countries, Development Partners, and Stakeholders of the International Pepper Community,

Pepper is more than a globally traded commodity. It supports farming families, sustains rural economies, connects producing communities with international markets, and carries generations of knowledge across our Member Countries.

Today, the sector stands at an important crossroads.

Changing market expectations, stricter quality and food safety requirements, climate pressures, technological advances, and evolving patterns of production and consumption are reshaping the global pepper industry. These developments bring uncertainty, but they also create opportunities for innovation, value addition, and stronger international cooperation.

It is in this spirit that I warmly invite you to the 54th Annual Session and Meetings of the International Pepper Community, to be held from 30 November to 4 December 2026 at the Bintang Bali Resort, Bali, Indonesia.

The Annual Session is more than a meeting on the IPC calendar. It is the principal forum where Member Countries and partners come together to examine the realities facing the sector, exchange experience, and identify practical priorities for its future.

This year's discussions will address issues that directly affect the competitiveness and resilience of the pepper industry, including market developments, quality and food safety, sustainable production, climate resilience, technological innovation, value addition, and cooperation across the pepper value chain.

Our purpose is not simply to review where the sector stands. We must also consider where it needs to go, what requires greater collective attention, and how the IPC can continue to serve as a relevant and trusted platform for cooperation.

In close coordination with the Government of Indonesia and relevant stakeholders, the IPC Secretariat is preparing a substantive and forward-looking programme. The meetings will create space for national perspectives, scientific knowledge, market intelligence, and industry experience to inform meaningful dialogue and stronger institutional action.

The Annual Session will also be held alongside the International Spice Exhibition 2026, providing an expanded platform for business engagement, product visibility, research exchange, innovation, and partnership development. By bringing together governments, producers, traders, processors, researchers, buyers, and development partners, the Exhibition will help connect policy dialogue with practical opportunities.

Your participation matters.

The strength of the IPC lies not only in its institutional framework, but also in the willingness of its Members and partners to contribute ideas, share experience, and work together towards common goals. Every perspective can enrich the discussion. Every partnership can strengthen the sector. Every commitment can help turn dialogue into progress.

I therefore warmly encourage Member Countries, industry stakeholders, research institutions, development partners, and all those committed to the future of pepper to join us in Bali. Bring your experience, your concerns, your ideas, and your ambition for the sector.

Let us use this gathering not only to discuss challenges, but also to build practical partnerships, strengthen confidence, and shape a shared direction for the years ahead.

On behalf of the IPC Secretariat, I extend my sincere appreciation to all Member Countries and partners for their continued trust, cooperation, and support. I look forward to welcoming you to Bali for a purposeful, forward-looking, and memorable 54th Annual Session and Meetings of the International Pepper Community.

Together, let us ensure that the future of pepper is shaped through informed dialogue, shared responsibility, and collective action.

Yours sincerely,

Marina Novira Anggraini
Executive Director
International Pepper Community