On May 22, U.S. Embassy Jakarta Chargé d’Affaires Heather C. Merritt participated in the Indonesia Agricultural Biotechnology Showcase organized by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with Indonesia’s Biosafety Commission (KKH). The event, held at the @america center in Jakarta, highlighted Indonesia's advancements in agricultural biotechnology. Speakers from both Indonesia and the United States discussed the country's cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops such as pest-resistant corn, drought-tolerant sugarcane, and late blight-resistant potatoes.
"Now more than ever, Indonesia is focused on food security, improved agricultural production, and also, of course, nutrition," said CDA Merritt. She emphasized various methods to enhance these areas through seamless trade and advanced biotechnology.
CDA Merritt visited six booths showcasing GE products available or under development in Indonesia. Products included pest-resistant corn, drought-tolerant sugarcane, late blight-resistant potato, vitamin A-fortified rice, rapid growth catfish, and U.S. soybeans. These products are vital for expanding Indonesia's food manufacturing and textile sectors.
During panel sessions, researchers discussed product development challenges and approval processes. Notably, the late blight-resistant potato was a collaborative effort involving several U.S. universities like Michigan State University alongside Indonesian agencies starting in 2006 until its full approval in 2024.
Professor David Douches from Michigan State University spoke about this collaboration: "Our goal is to bring late blight resistant potatoes to the farmers... What we’ve been able to do with biotechnology is take genes from wild species of potatoes and stack these three genes into one potato to give us resistance to the late blight disease."
Nutrition experts presented benefits of GE products like soybeans from the United States providing affordable protein for Indonesians. Vitamin A-fortified rice can help reduce Vitamin A deficiency prevalent in Indonesia.
The showcase concluded with a farmer panel discussing experiences cultivating GE crops. Participants included a virtual contribution from a Philippine GE corn farmer and three Indonesian farmers sharing their experiences with GE sugarcane, potatoes, and corn.
Chairman of KKH Bambang Prasetya emphasized improving regulatory processes for approving GE products efficiently: "Facilitate regulations to make [the approval process for GE products] smoother." He noted that streamlining regulations could align with President Prabowo’s priorities for enhancing food security.