Current Landscape and Future Prospects of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in Indonesia

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a diverse agricultural sector that plays a vital role in its economy. However, the country faces a multitude of agricultural challenges, such as food security (regarding increasing population accompanied by decreasing agricultural land), climate change, and environmental degradation. Genetically modified organisms (GMO/GM), especially GM crops, offer a solution to these issues. This book explores the current status of genetically modified (GM) crops in Indonesia. It provides a comprehensive analysis of their research and development, application, regulatory framework, public perception, and prospects in Indonesia. Indonesia has been engaging with GMO technology since the late 1990s, with research institutions and universities conducting genetic engineering research on crops such as rice, corn, potatoes, and soybeans. The initial efforts focused on food crops development with improved traits such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, yields, and nutritional content. These efforts have made remarkable progress in the development of GM crops in Indonesia, both in food crops and other important commodities, including cotton, corn, rice, potato, soybean, sugarcane, cassava, and chilli pepper. Various genetic engineering technologies were applied to develop GM crops including gene insertion/deletion, RNAi, and genome editing. Indonesia has conducted field trials for GM crops including cotton, corn, potato and rice to assess the agronomic performance, environmental impact, and safety of GM crops under local environmental conditions. While the results have been positive in terms of yields and resistance to pests, the transition to commercial cultivation has been slow due to regulatory hurdles and public resistance. As a signatory country to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the genetic engineering approach in Indonesia follows GMO regulation that requires extensive risk assessments and public consultations before the crops can be approved for commercial cultivation. Integrating GM crops into Indonesia's agricultural system requires a comprehensive strategy that includes regulatory reform, public engagement, targeted research, and support for farmers. Besides government research institutions and universities, multinational companies also participate in GM crop development and the release of varieties. The information presented in this book serves as a reference on Indonesia's ongoing contributions to the development of genetically modified (GM) crops and the application of cutting-edge technologies in this field.