ASIATODAY.ID, BATAM — Indonesia is strengthening its fresh food supply chain as locally produced vegetables from Batam gain access to the Singapore market, highlighting the country’s growing ambition to compete in the premium horticulture sector across Southeast Asia.
The National Food Agency (Bapanas) said food safety assurance from the production stage to distribution is becoming a key factor in expanding market access and improving the competitiveness of Indonesian fresh produce.
Deputy for Consumption Diversification and Food Safety at Bapanas, Andriko Noto Susanto, emphasized that global market opportunities must be supported by consistent food safety standards and quality management.
“Global market opportunities must be answered with strong food safety standards. If our food products are safe and produced properly, Indonesian products can compete internationally,” Andriko said during a visit to Batamindo Green Farm in Batam, Riau Islands.
Located near Singapore, Batam holds strategic importance as a potential gateway for Indonesia’s fresh agricultural exports. Its geographic proximity provides opportunities to develop efficient supply chains serving regional consumers, particularly markets with high quality and safety requirements.
During the visit, Andriko inspected the production process of various vegetable commodities, including cultivation practices and post-harvest handling at the company’s packing house.
He said Batamindo Green Farm has implemented Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in its cultivation process, while its packing house has adopted proper standards for handling fresh plant-based food products.
“Today we witnessed how vegetables produced by Batamindo Green Farm meet good food safety principles. At the cultivation level, they apply Good Agricultural Practices, and their packing house has implemented proper fresh food handling standards,” Andriko said.
According to Bapanas, the implementation of strong food safety standards can help Indonesian fresh produce access premium markets where consumers increasingly demand safe, traceable, and high-quality products.
The agency also encouraged producers to strengthen certification, including Prima certification, while expanding cooperation with local farmers through contract farming schemes.
Through these partnerships, modern agricultural practices applied by companies can be transferred to surrounding farmers, creating a wider ecosystem of safe and competitive fresh food production.
“We hope all fresh plant-based food producers can adopt the practices implemented by Batamindo Green Farm,” Andriko said.
Bapanas views upstream food safety assurance as a crucial part of building a resilient fresh food ecosystem. Through stronger standards, supervision, guidance, and certification, Indonesian agricultural products are expected to gain wider acceptance in both domestic and international markets.
With Batam’s strategic position next to Singapore, Indonesia aims to transform its horticulture sector into a more competitive regional supply chain, supporting food security and opening new opportunities for agricultural exports in ASEAN. (AT Network)
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