Pepper is a smallholder estate crop and a labour intensive commodity tha t is mainly cultivated in Lampung for black pepper, and Bangka Belitung for white pepper. It is also cultivated in Sulawesi, Java, and other areas in Sumatra.

In the past, Indonesia was the leading producer and exporter of black and white pepper in the world; however, in recent years, Indonesia has lost its leading position to Vietnam. Many factors have contributed to the decline in production. For example, instability of price, climate change, and pepper farmer's lack of knowledge on Good Agricultural Practices, resulting in low productivity, plant diseases, lack of quality seeds, and difficulties with water supply. Educating pepper farmers on these issues is crucial to ensure farmers are able to gain sustainable income from pepper farming.

SpiceUp will implement a financially sustainable information servisce that support 100.000 pepper farmers in Indonesia to increase their production, income, food security, and optimize their inputs of water, fertilizers, and perticides.