MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — The new Indonesia-Australia Grains Value Chain Leadership Program is bringing 25 future leaders of the Indonesian grains industry to Australia to expand their business networks and develop their understanding and knowledge of the grains value chains in Indonesia and Australia.

The future leaders from across retail, foodservice, nutrition, technology, processing and flour milling have been selected to participate in the program, which includes meeting Australian industry participants, on-farm experiences in Western Australia and Queensland, and visiting receival sites, processing and manufacturing facilities, and R&D centers.

The participants also will undertake workshops and intensive training at the University of Queensland about the full grains value chain from farmer to transport, handling, milling, compliance and policy. They then spend two days attending the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) Australia in Melbourne, July 26-27, where they will interact with many grains industry leaders and participants.

The program will also positively impact downstream production in Indonesia, for example, noodle makers, bakeries and feed suppliers, which include small to medium enterprises that make up a large proportion of the operations in Indonesia.

The 25 future leaders who are participating in the program this month are the first of three cohorts who will undertake the course over the coming years.

“Exporting grain, particularly wheat to Indonesia, is a significant agribusiness transaction for Australia with a 35-year history, and it is vital that we develop new and nurture existing networks and connections between the Indonesian and Australian grains and food industries,” said Richard Simonaitis, chief executive officer of Grains Australia. “The Indonesia-Australia Grains Value Chain Leadership Program is an important way to deepen relationships and build broader networks between our partner countries and transfer knowledge and improve understanding in both directions.”

The program is a collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded IA-CEPA ECP Katalis (Katalis) and industry partners Grains Australia, the Indonesian Flour Milling Association (APTINDO) and the Indonesian Feedmills Association (GPMT).