In Malaysia, The Star reported that the Indonesian government is looking to develop genetically modified organisms (GMO) to boost domestic soybean production and reduce imports in a move experts say is “unnecessary” as it is expected to fail to address key hurdles in national soybean production.
Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prastyo Adi, said Indonesia must prepare to use genetically modified soybeans to reduce dependence on imports, according to the report.
Last year, nationwide soybean demand was projected at 7,267 tons per day, or 2.65 million tons for the year, while 2024 domestic production was recorded at just 167,886 tons.
Eliza Mardian, a researcher with the Centre of Reform on Economics, said improving structural aspects of soybean trade, upgrading cultivation technology and ensuring that prices remained profitable for farmers were more pertinent than introducing genetically modified soybean variants.
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Category: Food & Agriculture
