The Forest Research Institute (FRI) has been engaged by the FPDA MVF project funded by IFAD and the Government of Papua New Guinea to map the Galip nut resource of the country.

The project has a special focus on improvement of value chain of the fresh produce sub-sector as well as the Galip nut sub-sector. Unlike fresh produce Galip nut is seasonal and has been processed locally and sold to top end markets both in the country and internationally by local companies such as SISAL of Madang and Frangipani of East New Britain. To date no data is available to reflect the capacity and the extent of the Galip nut tree which grows naturally in the forest. As a result, it has been difficult to track its population, spread and determine its viability.

An MOA has been signed between FPDA the implementing agency of the project and FRI to conduct a Galip Nut Resource Mapping study and provide data that can be used to make informed decisions in relation to developing the Galip nut industry. Under the agreement FRI will provide:

- an estimation of the Galip resource available in the forest
- an estimation of the Galip nut production volume
- carrying out a social survey to assess willingness of local Galip nut processors

Agnes Sumareke, the project lead in the galip nut resource study at FRI said that by quantifying and mapping out the resource, we will provide a roadmap for the industry where future development can rely on for data. She assured IFAD and FPDA that FRI has the technology to complete this work. "We will use drone tech and GIS to complete the mapping process".

FRI will commence work by October 2025 and will begin in East New Britain then Rabaul, New Ireland, Madang, Morobe and East Sepik.