Bayer Crop Science launched the herbicide tolerant biotech corn Dekalb DK95R in Banggo Village, Manggalewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia on July 26, 2023.

Andi M. Saleh, Coordinator of the Assessment and Variety Dissemination Subgroup of the Seed Directorate of the Directorate General of Food Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture said that the government encourages the development of new varieties both through hybrid technology and biotechnology. "Seeds are the main component that significantly contributes dominantly to increasing plant production and productivity," said Saleh.

Bayer Crop Science Country Cluster Head for Southeast Asia and Pakistan Stacy Markovich said the results of the trial they conducted in five provinces during the previous season showed that farmers who use DK95R have the potential to increase their yields by up to 30 percent compared to conventional practices. "This increase in income was obtained from a combination of higher yields and reduced input costs," she said.

Present during the launch were farmers and officials from Bayer Crop Science and the government, including Markovich and Saleh and Head of Food Crop Department of NTB Agriculture and Plantation Office, Mirza Amir Hamzah; Chairman of the Permanent Committee for the Development of the Food Industry of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hermanto Siregar; and Regent of Dompu Kader Jaelani.

For more details, read the article in Kompas (sign-up needed).

https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=20335