The United States is committed to partnering with the Indonesian government and the private sector to enhance Indonesia’s food security.  The U.S. government will support increased sustainable production in both agriculture and fisheries, encourage private sector investment, preserve the natural resource base, enhance agricultural university linkages, and increase bilateral trade flows in agricultural products.

Agricultural Productivity & Post-Harvest Handling

USAID’s agriculture programs embrace both biotechnology and conventional methods to improve Indonesia’s agricultural productivity and reduce post-harvest losses through utilization of improved crop varieties and management practices, increasing investment in related infrastructure, and advocating pro-farmer regulatory reform.  U.S. programs have targeted food and cash crops that are of significant interest to Indonesia.  Over the life of current programs, the United States will contribute $40 million to improve food security in Indonesia, including:

• USAID’s Agribusiness Market and Support Activity (AMARTA II) – a  five-year $20 million program that focuses on increasing production of targeted high-value commodities, expanding rural access to credit, and advocating for pro-farmer regulatory reform.
• USAID’s Papua Agricultural Development Alliance (PADA III) – a  five-year, $10 million  program that focuses on improving agricultural production and the livelihoods of rural peoples in one of Indonesia’s poorest regions, Papua.

Addressing Food Security through Fisheries

Oceans play a critical role in Indonesian food security, with marine fisheries feeding and providing income for vulnerable coastal and small island communities.  U.S. programs focus on promoting sustainability through responsible marine stewardship at the local level, increasing the supply of food from Indonesian fisheries, and increasing incomes among impoverished coastal and small island communities.  The United States is partnering with the Indonesian government and private sector firms to develop and expand sustainable business models and sustainable resource management.

Research and Education

The solution to food security lies in innovations arising from research and development.  Collaborative agricultural research and education initiatives in Indonesia include:

• U.S. support for Indonesia’s establishment of an Advanced Agricultural Research Center that will provide linkages to U.S. agricultural research institutions.
• USAID’s $1 million Agricultural program that will send talented Indonesian students to U.S. land-grant universities to get advanced degrees in the agricultural sciences.
• USDA’s Cochran and Borlaug Fellowship programs that continue to support Indonesia’s human resource development in food and agriculture by sending selected Fellows to the United States for short-term educational and research programs.
• A U.S. Department of State program that will support a series of speakers on agricultural and fisheries technology to include biotechnology, implemented in collaboration with Winrock International and its Indonesian Agricultural Development Council (A/D/C) scholars.

Agricultural Trade and Investment

Acknowledging that open trade flows are an important component of global food security, the United States and Indonesia have set a goal of reaching $10 billion in bilateral trade in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry products by 2014.  Achieving this goal will expand employment opportunities and support incomes in both nations.  U.S. exports will exceed $3 billion in 2011, contributing directly to over 25,000 U.S. jobs.  Indonesia is currently the 9th largest export market for the United States and should remain one of the fastest growing markets.