Younger representatives of the Indonesian grains industry on a study tour of Australia in July and August this year. Photos: Supplied
Australian wheat is big business in Indonesia, which imported almost $2billion worth of our wheat last year.
Future grains industry leaders from Indonesia had a taste of the Australian grains value chain as part of the second annual Australia Awards Short Course on Grains Value Chain Leadership Program last month.
Delivered by Grains Australia, the program gives the next generation of Indonesian leaders an opportunity to develop their networks and grains supply chain knowledge.
The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) is an initiative of the WA Government and Grains Australia.
While being hosted by AEGIC, the group was treated to a hands-on session on exactly why Australian wheat is so sought after for noodles and baked products in South East Asia – complete with sensory testing.
The Australia Awards Short Course participants arrived in Australia on July 21 and their two-week program included meeting Australian industry participants and visits to farms, receival sites, plant breeder facilities and processing and manufacturing sites.
They spent two days at the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) Australia in Melbourne on July 31 and August 1 to speak with leaders from many grains industry organisations.
Indonesia is a major market for Australian wheat. ABS figures for 2023 show Indonesia imported about 4.3million tonnes of Australian wheat.
AEGIC regularly provides technical support and information exchange to Indonesian customers to help them optimise the value of Australian grain and understand their quality needs to maintain Australia’s position as a preferred wheat supplier.
Indonesian flour millers prefer using Australian wheat for noodles because of its milling quality, and excellent colour and colour stability.
The program is managed by Australia Awards in Indonesia (AAI) and implemented by the University of Queensland (UQ).
