Agriculture Ministry Urges Universities to Strengthen Livestock Downstreaming

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture has called on universities, alumni, and the business sector to strengthen collaboration to accelerate downstream development in the national livestock sector. The initiative is aimed at improving competitiveness while enhancing the welfare of smallholder farmers.

Director General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Suganda, said downstream development must provide tangible benefits for livestock businesses, particularly smallholder farmers. “Downstream development must provide tangible benefits by improving the competitiveness and welfare of smallholder farmers,” Agung said in Jakarta on Tuesday September 8, 2026.

He also said the livestock sector plays a strategic role in supporting Indonesia’s national food security. The sector is also important in meeting the public’s demand for animal protein.

The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that livestock downstream development cannot rely solely on the construction of processing facilities. It must integrate various aspects, ranging from production and technology to processing, distribution, and market access.

Universities are encouraged to contribute by strengthening research and innovation that can be applied to address the needs of the livestock sector. They are also expected to produce human resources with skills and expertise that match the evolving needs of the livestock industry.

Collaboration between universities and the livestock sector is expected to deliver direct benefits to farmers. These efforts include improving production efficiency, developing value-added products, and expanding farmers’ access to markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also encouraging the involvement of businesses and university alumni in developing a livestock downstreaming ecosystem. Strong cooperation among stakeholders is considered essential to ensure that research and innovation move beyond academic settings and are applied to real-world business activities.

The government hopes that stronger cooperation among the government, universities, businesses, and farmers will help strengthen Indonesia’s national livestock ecosystem. Through this synergy, the livestock sector is expected to become more productive, innovative, competitive, and capable of generating greater added value for local communities.