Indonesia reconsidering its opposition to genetically modified crops
Divya Karyza | Jakarta Post | April 3, 2025
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.
National Food Agency (Bapanas) head Arief Prastyo Adi said Indonesia must prepare to use genetically modified soybeans to reduce dependence on imports.
Indonesia relies heavily on soybean imports as domestic production falls far short of demand.
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[Eliza Mardian stated] that other options for boosting productivity existed as well, including the use of the Mutiara 1 variety, which was developed via irradiation.
Irradiation involves controlled radiation to change a plant’s genetic material. After screening multiple generations, plants with desirable traits, such as increased yields, are selected and further bred to develop stable, improved crop varieties. The latter are not considered GMOs, because they do not involve the direct insertion of foreign DNA.