POULTRYINDONESIA, Tangerang – The International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture Exposition (ILDEX) Indonesia 2026 officially opened on Wednesday (16/9) at ICE BSD, Tangerang. Now in its eighth edition, this year’s ILDEX Indonesia brings together livestock industry stakeholders from Indonesia and various countries to explore opportunities for cooperation in technology, investment, science, and industrial development.

Director of PT Permata Kreasi Media (PKM), Fitri Nursanti Poernomo, said the 2026 edition of ILDEX Indonesia marks an important milestone as the exhibition will begin taking place annually starting this year. According to her, ILDEX is expected to become an increasingly strong meeting platform for industry stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, build networks, and explore opportunities for cooperation.

Since its first edition, ILDEX Indonesia has consistently been held in September. According to Fitri, the month holds special significance for Indonesia’s livestock and animal health sectors as it coincides with the annual Indonesia Livestock and Animal Health Service Month, which runs from August 26 to September 26.

“This year, we are commemorating 190 years of Indonesia’s livestock and animal health journey. We are proud that ILDEX Indonesia has contributed to and become part of the series of activities marking the 190th Livestock and Animal Health Service Month,” Fitri said.

She added that the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the long journey of Indonesia’s livestock and animal health sectors while also examining future challenges and opportunities. Technology, innovation, science, and collaboration are considered important elements in bringing the industry to its next stage of development.

“ILDEX is a platform that connects Indonesia with the global livestock technology community and connects technology with the future needs of Asia. This year, ILDEX Indonesia and Horti Agri Indonesia are joined by participants from 22 countries, with 193 companies and approximately 50 seminar and business sessions,” she said.

Fitri explained that ILDEX’s joint organization with Horti Agri Indonesia is also based on the growing importance of connections between the livestock and agricultural sectors in building food security. According to her, food security cannot be developed by viewing livestock, food crops, water, agricultural technology, climate resilience, and food production systems as separate sectors.

In addition to the exhibition, ILDEX Indonesia 2026 features an international seminar commemorating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Newcastle Disease Virus. The seminar brings together experts from research and educational institutions, technology and biomedical companies, as well as representatives of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to share knowledge and perspectives on developments in Newcastle disease and the challenges of controlling it.

In the outdoor area, ILDEX also features live animals, including cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and chickens. Their presence is intended to provide a more comprehensive picture of the livestock industry.

“The presence of these live animals provides a direct and more complete picture that behind the technology, machinery, feed, genetics, medicines, information technology, and various innovations we see inside the exhibition halls, we are ultimately talking about living creatures, livestock farming, and a food system that must be developed sustainably,” she said.

The message about the importance of strengthening the industry was also conveyed by Makmun, Director of Downstream Development at the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services (Ditjen PKH), Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, who delivered remarks on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture at the opening ceremony.

Makmun emphasized that ILDEX plays a role beyond that of a conventional exhibition, serving as a platform that brings together technology, investment, science, industry, and livestock producers from Indonesia and around the world. He also positioned ILDEX 2026 as an important part of the 190th Livestock and Animal Health Service Month.

According to Makmun, the theme carries the message that Indonesia needs to become increasingly capable of meeting its animal protein requirements through domestic production. The challenge is growing alongside population growth and increasing demand for food and animal protein, while the availability of land for food production must compete with various other development needs.

Therefore, building food security requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders within a single ecosystem. The government, farmers, livestock producers, businesses, academics, investors, and the public need to work together to strengthen the national food system.

In this context, ILDEX 2026 is considered a platform for strengthening ties between the government, academia, investors, industry players, and international partners. The cooperation developed is not limited to trade, but also encompasses technology investment, joint research, innovation, and strategic partnerships.

“What we need now is the right technology, productive investment, sustainable innovation, and collaboration that creates added value. Ultimately, industrial growth must provide greater opportunities for Indonesian livestock producers to continue growing and developing,” he added.