Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said downstream processing is key to strengthening the economy, boosting energy independence, and securing food resilience amid global uncertainty.Speaking in Jakarta on Saturday, the minister said Indonesia must stop exporting raw commodities and instead expand downstream industries to capture higher added value domestically.He highlighted key commodities such as coconut, crude palm oil (CPO), and gambier, saying their derivatives—ranging from processed oils to industrial products—could significantly increase economic returns compared with raw exports.Indonesia is the world’s top coconut producer, but much of its output is exported unprocessed, he said, noting products like virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut water could multiply value by tens to hundreds of times.“If coconut is processed into virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut water, the value can increase tens to hundreds of times,” he said.He added that Indonesia supplies about 80 percent of global gambier demand, yet exports it mostly in semi-processed form, allowing other countries to capture higher value.Amran also pointed to palm oil, saying Indonesia controls more than 60 percent of global CPO production, which could be transformed into higher-value goods such as margarine and cosmetics.He said downstreaming would not only strengthen the national economy but also improve farmers’ welfare, create jobs, and enhance Indonesia’s global economic position. However, he acknowledged challenges, including resistance from parties opposed to Indonesia reducing imports and becoming more self-reliant in food and energy.The government remains committed to advancing downstreaming, food self-sufficiency, and energy independence in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives, he said.Amran said Indonesia’s reduced rice imports—cut by up to 7 million tons, equivalent to about Rp100 trillion—had contributed to a drop in global rice prices from US$660 per ton to US$340 per ton, or around 44 percent.He added that Indonesia’s food sector gains had earned international recognition, including global food security awards from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2024 and 2025.The achievements have attracted interest from countries such as Japan, Canada, Chile, and Belarus, which have visited Indonesia to study its food system.Amran warned that food security is critical aspect, noting that a food crisis could trigger political instability and social conflict, making it a top national priority.