The Indonesian Quarantine Authority (Barantin) is taking a progressive step in modernizing the national animal quarantine system. Through a strategic partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the government has begun implementing science- and digital technology-based risk management to anticipate increasingly complex transboundary animal disease threats.
The initiative, outlined in the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) with financial support worth USD 200,000, was officially launched through a workshop in Jakarta. This program is designed to create a biosecurity system that is not only robust and adaptive, but also capable of identifying potential threats before entering Indonesia's sovereign territory.
Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority, Abdul Kadir Karding, emphasized that digital transformation is an absolute necessity amid rapid global trade dynamics. According to him, supervision at entry and exit points is no longer sufficient by relying solely on conventional procedures, but must rely on accurate data-driven decision-making and precise risk analysis.
"We are committed to building a modern system so that Barantin does not become an obstacle to logistics flows, while on the other hand, biosecurity remains a top priority. This is crucial considering the livestock sector supports tens of millions of households in Indonesia," Karding said in his statement.
The strengthening of this system includes three main pillars: enhancing officer capacity in risk management, developing digital systems for disease mapping and Early Warning Systems (EWS), and public education. The One Health approach is also adopted to synergize animal, human, and environmental health in an integrated manner.
Echoing these sentiments, the FAO Representative for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Rajendra Aryal, stated that animal quarantine functions as the nation's frontline defense. With this technology-based strengthening, Indonesia is expected to maintain ecosystem sustainability while enhancing the competitiveness of national commodities in international markets through a globally recognized biosecurity system.
