The third ILO Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the World of Work Forum, held on 4 December 2024 in Jakarta, brought together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore how AI can transform agriculture in Indonesia. The forum, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, aimed to address the role of AI in enhancing farming productivity, food security, and decent work, particularly in a nation where agriculture plays a crucial economic role.
Agriculture is vital to Indonesia’s economy, contributing approximately 14 percent of the national GDP and employing around 28 percent of the workforce. A significant portion of the workforce comprises smallholder farmers who often face challenges, such as limited education, advanced age, and poor internet access. Against this backdrop, AI was highlighted as a transformative tool for overcoming many of the sector’s challenges. The forum aimed to showcase AI’s potential in improving productivity and efficiency while ensuring decent work for the agricultural sector.
AI has become a key focus for the Indonesian government as it strives to meet both national and global commitments, such as achieving food security, addressing climate change, and working toward the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. As part of this effort, the government recognizes the importance of improving the skills of agricultural workers through training and education. The Ministry of Manpower has been playing a vital role in this process, providing training programs aimed at enhancing the quality of agricultural human resources and supporting agricultural entrepreneurship across the country.
The forum featured keynote speeches and presentations from various experts, including Fahrurozi, SH., MA, the Expert for Industrial Relations Affairs of the Ministry of Manpower, who emphasized AI’s positive impact on productivity. He noted that AI aligns with Indonesia’s broader strategic goals, including enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable economic development. He also discussed the crucial role the Ministry of Manpower plays in upskilling the agricultural workforce, especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, also addressed the forum, underscoring the importance of collective action in transforming agriculture. She emphasized the need for coordination between the government, the private sector, and workers to create a framework where technology serves humanity. She highlighted that the ILO is committed to supporting Indonesia in harnessing AI’s potential to build a productive and smart agriculture sector that benefits everyone.
A panel discussion followed, featuring several industry experts who shared their experiences and insights on how AI is already being applied in agriculture. Panellists included H. Aun Gunawan, Head of South Bandung Dairy Farming Cooperative; Muhammad Guruh, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Agritech at PT Astra Agro Lestari; Ainu Rofig, Co-Founder and Board Member of KOLTIVA; and Leonardo Lapalorcia, President of the Board of Directors and CEO at CRIF Financial Information Institution (CLIK). The discussion highlighted the various ways AI is improving efficiency, crop management, supply chain optimization, and production quality in agriculture. Furthermore, panellists discussed how AI could help address critical barriers such as access to finance, with AI potentially improving credit scores and facilitating better financial access for farmers.
The forum attracted over 100 stakeholders from diverse fields, including agriculture, technology, policy, and labor, all contributing to the discussion on AI’s potential in the agricultural sector. These experts discussed the potential benefits of AI for improving working conditions, reducing occupational safety and health risks, and protecting labor rights. They also identified key areas for policy interventions that could foster the development and adoption of AI in agriculture.
This event was the third in a series of AI forums organized by the ILO. The first forum, held in June 2024, focused on the implications of AI for the Indonesian labor market, while the second, held in September, explored AI’s role in supporting economic growth and innovation in micro, small, and medium enterprises. The series will continue in 2025, with more thematic discussions centered on AI’s impact on various sectors and its role in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Overall, the third ILO AI Forum underscored the importance of integrating AI into Indonesia’s agricultural sector to improve productivity, food security, and the quality of work. By bringing together experts from various fields, the event fostered valuable discussions on how AI can drive the future of agriculture while ensuring that technological advances benefit all workers and stakeholders involved.
