September 23, 2008

Indonesia and Brazil agrees to enhance cooperation in agriculture

Indonesia and Brazil have agreed to enhance cooperation in research and agricultural development.

An official release of the Foreign Ministry, made available to Antara on Friday, said the cooperation would be specified in a technical arrangement which would include cooperation in research, development and dissemination of soy.

In addition, the cooperation also included research in jatropha, sugarcane, livestock and other sectors.

The commitment for increased cooperation was conveyed during the visit of an Indonesian delegation of the Agriculture Ministry to Brazil last week which was a follow up of a previous visit in March 2008.

During the agriculture minister's visit to Brazil, the two countries discussed cooperation on agriculture-related genetics, bio-technology, biological security, pest-handling facilities, and development of transgenic eucalyptus seedling, sugarcane, cotton and corn.

The Indonesian government during the visit also proposed cooperation in soy technological development especially in the exchange of genetic materials, land use technology and the development of human resources.