Eligible Topics
IRSA and PT SMI warmly invite scholars and practitioners to submit papers that contribute to advancing knowledge and policy innovation in infrastructure development and creative financing for regional food system transformation, such as:
- Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Food Security Transformation and Regional Competitiveness
- Mobilizing Capital and Creative Financing Models for Food-Related Infrastructure under Fiscal Constraints
- Competitive Down-streaming (Hilirisasi) and Agro-Industrial Infrastructure
- Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Food Security
- Governance, Institutional Coordination, and Implementation Challenges in Improving Food Security
- Evaluating the Regional Economic and Distributional Impacts of Food Infrastructure Investment.
The Award
The selected papers will receive Rp. 3,000,000.- (three million rupiahs) per paper and an opportunity to present at the IRSA-SMI Institute special session on Strengthening Food Security through Infrastructure and Creative Financing. Further, the authors will have the option to publish their works in the IRSA Book Series on Regional Development.
Context
The IRSA 2026 Conference theme, “Driving Regional Transformation: Synergizing Innovation, Connectivity, and Social Inclusion in Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Forestry,” highlights the strategic importance of food-related sectors in shaping Indonesia’s regional economic transformation. Agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry are not only essential for national food security but also serve as key economic pillars for many regions, contributing significantly to employment, poverty reduction, and rural livelihoods. However, improving productivity, resilience, and product quality within these sectors is not a simple process. It requires coordinated systems ranging from efficient production practices and post-harvest management to logistics, storage, processing, and market access. Sustainable transformation of food systems therefore goes beyond increasing output at the primary production level. It requires downstream development (hilirisasi), value-added processing, and stronger integration into regional and global value chains. Achieving this transformation depends on well-integrated infrastructure systems and sustainable financing mechanisms that enable innovation, strengthen connectivity, and promote inclusive participation of farmers, fishers, and local communities.
Despite its potential, Indonesia continues to face several structural constraints. Among others are uneven infrastructure development across regions, limited irrigation modernization and water resource management, high logistics costs and fragmented value chains, insufficient cold storage and agro-processing facilities, increasing climate risks affecting agricultural and aquaculture productivity and constrained fiscal space at both central and subnational levels.
In this context, infrastructure must be understood as a systemic enabler of food system transformation, embedded within regional production structures, value chains, and institutional financing arrangements, rather than mere physical assets. Irrigation systems, rural connectivity, cold chains, agro-logistics, digital infrastructure, renewable energy for farming communities, and port facilities for fisheries are essential components of a resilient and competitive regional food system. On the other hand, given fiscal limitations, achieving these objectives requires moving beyond traditional public financing models. Creative financing instruments, blended finance mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and risk-mitigation frameworks are increasingly important to mobilize investment while maintaining fiscal sustainability. Clear identification of priority infrastructure projects, integration of infrastructure planning with regional development strategies, strong institutional coordination, and evidence-based policy design are essential to ensure effective implementation.
As Indonesia’s Development Finance Institution (DFI), PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI) plays a strategic role in bridging infrastructure financing gaps at the subnational level. Through innovative financing instruments, blended finance approaches, regional lending, and public-private partnership schemes, PT SMI supports infrastructure projects that promote regional competitiveness while maintaining fiscal sustainability.
This special session provides a platform for academics, policymakers, financial institutions, and practitioners to exchange research findings, policy insights, and practical experiences on infrastructure investment and creative financing for food security system transformation. The session aims to generate actionable recommendations that support Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen food security, enhance regional resilience, and drive inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
How to Apply?
All papers related to the above-mentioned topics that are submitted for presentation at the 21st IRSA International Conference will be considered for the IRSA–SMI Institute Paper Awards. To be eligible, the papers must be presented at the conference, and all IRSA Conference terms and conditions will apply to all applicants, including the requirement to pay the conference registration fee. Three papers will be selected as winners.
Timelines
- Deadline for submitting an abstract: 2 March 2026
- Deadline for submitting the full paper: 1 June 2026
- Notification of Winners: 15 June 2026
Submission
An extended paper abstract of about 500 words should be submitted online via http://www.conftool.com/irsa2026 by 2 March 2026. The abstract should include background, data and methodology, potential contributions, and keywords. Abstracts must be submitted in English, as also the entire paper.