Australia Deepens Agricultural Ties with Indonesia Amid Jakarta Talks

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Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins’ visit to Jakarta on July 31, 2025, secured new agricultural trade deals with Indonesia, focusing on meatmeal exports and biosecurity cooperation.

On July 31, 2025, Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, concluded a three-day visit to Jakarta, marking a significant step in strengthening Australia’s agricultural trade with Indonesia, its fifth-largest export market valued at $5.5 billion in 2023-2024. The visit, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip in May, focused on reopening the meatmeal trade, suspended since 2018 due to Indonesia’s concerns over traceability and packing compliance. Collins’ meetings with Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono resulted in a bilateral protocol reinstating the $100 million meatmeal trade, benefiting Australian exporters and Indonesia’s poultry and aquaculture sectors.

Collins, accompanied by the Australian Livestock Exporters Council (ALEC) Chair David Galvin and CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton, visited the PT Lembu Jentan Perkasa feedlot in West Java to inspect live cattle supply chains. Harvey-Sutton praised the visit, noting, “It underscores the importance of Indonesia to Australia’s cattle industry.” The agreement aligns with Australia’s goal to grow its agricultural sector to $100 billion by 2030, with six Australian rendering establishments now approved for export. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) will support a food and agriculture mission to Indonesia later in 2025 to foster business connections, aligning with the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Biosecurity cooperation was a key focus, with both nations reinforcing commitments to manage shared fish stocks and aquatic animal health through regional fisheries bodies. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) confirmed that recent Indonesian audits cleared Australian facilities, paving the way for trade resumption. However, critics argue the federal government’s focus on international trade risks diverting resources from domestic farmers facing rising costs, as highlighted by the National Farmers’ Federation’s call for balanced agricultural policy.

The visit underscores Australia’s strategic push to deepen economic ties with Indonesia, a key G20 partner. Yet, some industry leaders, including GrainGrowers Limited, caution that ongoing trade negotiations must prioritize local producers to avoid market distortions. Collins emphasized the reliability of Australia’s agricultural exports, stating, “Our products support Indonesia’s food security.” Further details on trade outcomes will emerge from upcoming Austrade initiatives.