Jakarta, Indonesia
August 19, 2013
USDA/FAS GAIN report ID 1338
Highlights
This report updates the Agricultural Biotechnology Annual Report 2012 in providing information on biotech development in Indonesia.
Executive Summary
The United States exported over $1.3 billion of genetically engineered (GE) products to Indonesia in 2012, to include Bt cotton, herbicide tolerant soybeans and meal, Bt corn and a variety of food products derived from GE crops.
At present, there are no imported or locally developed commercial GE seed varieties approved for planting in Indonesia. However, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and local universities are extensively researching a number of GE varieties to include, virus resistance for tomatoes and potatoes, delayed ripening for papaya, sweet potato pest resistance, and drought tolerant rice. As well, some Indonesian researchers have begun to focus on GE animals for genotyping or genetic markers of Indonesian local livestock, such as poultry, bali cattle and sheep. Any practical applications in Indonesia for GE animals and animal products are still very long-term.
The GOI’s overarching policy on agricultural biotechnology is to “accept with a precautionary approach” with respect to environmental safety, food safety, and/or feed safety based on scientific approaches as well as taking into considerations of religion, ethical, socio-cultural, and esthetical norms. Therefore, several regulations and guidelines have been issued to protect the public from the possibility of negative consequences of biotechnology utilization.
As of to date, seven GE corn varieties, two GE soybean varieties, and three GE sugarcane varieties have received approval for food safety in Indonesia. In addition, two GE corn varieties have received feed safety approval. According to Post sources, three GE sugarcane varieties that have been approved for environmental safety will receive variety-release approval from the Ministry of Agriculture in the near future.
However, the new environmental requirements for event approval may delay the importation or development local commercial of GE seeds. In addition, other unscientific considerations, such as: religion, ethical, socio-cultural, and esthetical norms could slow down the agriculture biotechnology acceptance.
Post sources indicated two more GE soybean varieties and one GE corn variety are in pipeline for food safety approval. Post anticipates that first GE plant to be officially commercialized in 2015 maybe locally produced drought tolerant sugarcane.
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