Driving Innovation in Agriculture: Key Takeaways from The Dissemination of the Study on Digitalization in Indonesia’s Agri-food Sector
Erasmus Huis Auditorium, South Jakarta, On October 29th, 2024, the Discussion & Stakeholder Networking on Agriculture Digitalization gathered more than 80 Indonesia’s & Netherland's top stakeholders and influential players from the agricultural sector for an insightful and collaborative forum. Attended by experts, policymakers, tech innovators, and financial institutions, the event highlighted the growing importance of digital transformation in driving sustainable and inclusive growth in Indonesia's agriculture.
Strengthening Dutch Indonesian Collaboration in Agriculture Digitalization
The Netherlands is working to strengthen collaboration with Indonesia in the agriculture sector, with a particular focus on agriculture digitalization and improving its regulatory infrastructure. This partnership aims to drive innovation in both countries, fostering more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices. By streamlining processes through digital tools and strengthening regulatory frameworks, the collaboration seeks to address challenges in both Indonesian and the Netherlands agricultural landscape.
This effort aligns with the broader goal of developing resilient local food systems. Digitalization in agriculture can play a pivotal role in improving production, resource management, and market access, contributing to more sustainable local food systems in both nations. As part of the series of programs that lead to the bilateral collaboration within the agriculture sector, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta is collaborating with ANGIN in hosting a networking and discussion event for agri-tech, government, and related stakeholders. This event is also a dissemination from the study on digitalization of the agri-food sector in Indonesia previously conducted.
The event opened with remarks by Joost van Uum, Agricultural Counsellor for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore at the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), and Hariwan Puja Wilapa, Deputy Director for Bilateral Cooperation at Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture. Both speakers underscored the essential role of cross-border partnerships and innovative solutions in shaping a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector, stressing that digital technologies are key to meeting the sector's current and future challenges.
Research Findings on Indonesian Digital Agricultural Landscape
Saskia Tjokro, Director of ANGIN Advisory,presented research findings conducted by ANGIN Advisory in the first half of 2023, that outlined the transformative potential of digital tools across agriculture. The findings serve a dual purpose: to support Dutch entrepreneurs in identifying strategic areas for involvement while guiding the Dutch embassy on tech priorities and potential interventions to strengthen the market positioning of Dutch smart agricultural solutions. The study highlights promising sub-sectors within Indonesia’s agriculture where Dutch technologies, such as precision farming, data analytics, and automation, could drive significant improvements in productivity and sustainability.
With these insights, Dutch entrepreneurs and investors are better equipped to make informed decisions, aligning their innovations with Indonesia's unique agricultural needs while contributing to its digital transformation journey. This focused approach promises not only a strengthened presence for Dutch agricultural technologies in Indonesia but also a collaborative pathway towards sustainable agricultural development.
Access the full report on Google Drive.
From Research to Real-World Solutions: Industry and Government Discuss Agri-Tech Collaboration
Following the research findings presentation, a fireside chat brought together industry leaders to explore the practical applications of digital solutions in agriculture. In the "Fireside Chat Session 1: Collaborations in Accelerating Agriculture Digitalization" brought together an expert panel to explore the critical role of collaboration in integrating agritech solutions into global supply chains. Speakers included Teddy Prayoga, Data-Driven Growing Specialist at Letsgrow.com; Dally Shafar, CEO of BIOPS Agrotekno; Hyachynthia Kesuma, Impact Investment Manager at Rabo Foundation; and Andra Daniswara, Data Scientist at Terrasphere. Together, they offered insights into how agritech companies, regardless of geographical boundaries, can effectively partner to create impactful solutions in agriculture, particularly in emerging markets.
In Fireside Chat Session 2, key government and international representatives shared insights into how public initiatives are driving digital transformation in Indonesia's agricultural sector. Speakers included Yuli Wilanti, National Project Director of the FOLUR Program; Dr. Nugroho Setyabudhi, Senior Data Analyst at PUSDATIN, Ministry of Agriculture; Luc Groot, Manager of Kadaster International; and Reza Hanjaya, CEO of SIPINDO at EWINDO. This discussion explored public-private partnerships, policy frameworks, and data initiatives aimed at enabling agricultural sustainability through digital tools.
Agri-Digitalization in Focus: Participants Tackle Key Areas of Co-Creation, Financing, R&D, and Government Partnerships
The Discussion & Stakeholder Networking on Agriculture Digitalization concluded with an engaging group discussion that brought together participants from diverse backgrounds to brainstorm and strategize on key focus areas. Attendees were divided into four specialized groups, each tasked with exploring critical elements of digital transformation in agriculture. These groups were: 1) Business Case Co-Creation; 2) Unlocking Access to Agricultural Financing; 3) Joint R&D; and 4) G2G Partnership. Each group identified potential collaboration opportunities and considered ways the Dutch Embassy and ANGIN could provide support.
This session highlighted crucial insights and opportunities for growth in Indonesia's agritech sector. One of the main takeaways was to develop innovation-based R&D focused on creating simplified data and tools that cater specifically to smallholder farmers’ needs to ensure broader accessibility and usability. By focusing on these tailored solutions, small-scale farmers can be supported with practical and actionable resources that facilitate growth and resilience within Indonesia’s agritech landscape. Additionally, the development and integration of geo-data portals were emphasized to support collaborative projects focused on sustainable agricultural practices and infrastructure needs. These portals are intended to facilitate data sharing and collaboration, helping stakeholders align efforts with sustainability goals.
This final session enabled participants to contribute actionable ideas and explore potential collaborations across the sector. Importantly, each identified partnership opportunity will continue to evolve over time, adapting to new developments in the field.
This group discussion session marked a powerful conclusion to the event, with participants uniting around shared objectives and exchanging insights on overcoming key barriers to agricultural digitalization. The group discussions underscored the importance of collaboration across businesses, financial institutions, research bodies, and governments in driving sector-wide transformation. Together, the ideas generated from these discussions provide a foundation for future partnerships, empowering stakeholders to create an interconnected, resilient agricultural ecosystem.
