A new strategic working group brings together government, businesses and knowledge institutions to stimulate innovation and improve access to high-quality seeds in Indonesia.
The Netherlands and Indonesia have officially launched the Indonesia–Netherlands Strategic Seed Sector Working Group. The working group provides a new platform for strategic dialogue and coordination between the two countries, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the seed sector and contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The working group was co-chaired by Dr. Mochamad Saleh Nugrahadi of Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs and Ester Kruk, Agriculture Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The launch brought together partners from the Indonesian and Dutch governments, the private sectors and knowledge institutions.
A strong and well-functioning seed sector is essential to ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality seeds of varieties suited to local growing conditions. The Netherlands has extensive knowledge and experience in plant breeding, seed production and seed quality. By combining this expertise with the knowledge, needs and ambitions of Indonesian partners, both countries aim to develop a seed sector that stimulates innovation and provides farmers with better access to suitable new varieties.
Figure 1. Indonesian and Dutch representatives for Seed Sector Working Group
From Strategic Dialogue to Concrete Results
The Strategic Seed Sector Working Group has been established as a platform to provide a structured framework for cooperation between governments, businesses and knowledge institutions. Its agenda will include variety registration, seed quality assurance, phytosanitary procedures, market access, plant breeders’ rights and capacity development. Promoting the adoption and use of high-quality seeds by farmers will also be a key priority.
The involvement of public and private partners is important. Regulation, research, technological innovation and practical application at farm level must reinforce one another. The working group provides a platform for jointly addressing bottlenecks, setting priorities and better coordinating activities.
The launch is part of a broader cooperation project running from January 2026 to June 2027. The project is implemented by SeedNL and Wageningen University & Research, in close cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Indonesian partners. In addition to establishing the working group, the project includes the development of a joint Seed Sector Roadmap and demonstrations and trials of vegetable and potato varieties from Dutch seed companies.
Figure 2. Indonesian and Dutch representatives for Seed Sector Working Group
A Joint Roadmap for Indonesia’s Seed Sector
A key objective of this initiative is to develop a Seed Sector Roadmap to guide long-term cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands. The roadmap will provide an overview of the current state of the sector, its ambitions for the next ten years and the strategic steps needed to achieve them.
Indonesia has an extensive legal framework governing seeds, but an integrated policy to coordinate and guide the development of the sector as a whole is still lacking. The roadmap aims to support a coherent approach, with clear priorities and actions for the short, medium and long term.
The focus will be on the vegetable and potato sectors, where the Netherlands can contribute relevant knowledge and expertise. The roadmap is being developed in collaboration with public and private stakeholders to ensure that it addresses both policy challenges and the needs of businesses, researchers and farmers.
In October 2026, discussions and consultations with relevant stakeholders in Jakarta and North Sumatra were scheduled, alongside exchanges with Dutch partners. Based on the sector analysis and these consultations, the project aims to develop an initial draft of the roadmap in January 2027 and the document is expected to be finalized in March–April 2027. The focus will then shift to implementing and monitoring the agreed actions to ensure that the roadmap provides practical direction for the further development of the seed sector.
Innovation in Practice
Alongside policy cooperation and strategic planning, the project includes demonstrations and trials of vegetable and potato varieties from Dutch companies. These activities involve companies including HZPC, Rijk Zwaan, Bejo and East-West Seed Indonesia, as well as Indonesian partners such as the Herbal and Horticulture Science and Technology Park (TSTH2) in North Sumatra.
Beeld: © LAN JAK
Figure 3. Visiting potato breeding greenhouse of PT. Indofood in Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra
Testing new varieties under Indonesian growing conditions will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding their suitability for local production systems. These activities bring Dutch companies, Indonesian partners and knowledge institutions closer together, linking innovation and research with farmers’ day-to-day practices.
The field trials complement the roadmap and the working group. While the roadmap helps establish the strategic direction and the working group coordinates cooperation, the trials provide opportunities to explore innovation in practice.
Figure 4. Visiting food estate in Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra, for potential seed variety field testing
Building a Future-Proof Seed Sector Together
Through the Strategic Seed Sector Working Group, the Seed Sector Roadmap and variety trials, the Netherlands and Indonesia are working towards a shared goal: a stronger and better-functioning seed system that promotes innovation and improves Indonesian farmers’ access to high-quality seeds of varieties adapted to local conditions.