Earlier this month, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) staff and members including Growth Energy, Marquis Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association joined a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade mission in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo credit: USGBC.
Earlier this month, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) staff and members joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA’s FAS) and USDA Under Secretary Luke J. Lindberg for an Agricultural Trade Mission (ATM) to Jakarta, Indonesia, to promote U.S. ethanol and coarse grain products in the world’s fourth largest country.
The Council’s delegation included USGBC Vice President Cary Siffereth; USGBC Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEA&O) Caleb Wurth; USGBC Deputy Regional Director for SEA&O Chris Markey; and USGBC Regional Ethanol Consultant Aaron Goh.
USGBC members were also well represented on the mission, with Growth Energy Director of Global Policy Emily Marthaler, Renewable Fuels Association General Counsel and Vice President Edward Hubbard and Marquis Energy Director MJ Tan and providing their expertise.
The mission included discussions with USDA Under Secretary Luke J. Lindberg and leadership from the Indonesian Government and private sector regarding corn imports and ethanol industry development.
“The Council extends its thanks to Under Secretary Lindberg and the USDA for the continued trust and support given to further reducing barriers to trade for U.S. agricultural goods,” Sifferath said.
“ATMs show we are committed to supporting our customers, and the Undersecretary’s presence solidifies this at the highest levels.”
The ATM culminated in a USGBC-organized ethanol policy workshop, reinforcing the growing cooperation between Indonesia and the U.S. in advancing ethanol industry development and energy resilience. The workshop followed the Government of Indonesia’s announcement in late-2025 outlining plans for a mandatory E10 policy to be implemented no later than 2028.
“We commend the Government of Indonesia for its clear commitment to advancing E10 fuels as part of its broader energy transition strategy. Moving toward higher ethanol blends will strengthen energy security, support rural economic development and reduce emissions – all critical actions that align with Indonesia’s national policy objectives,” said Wurth.
The workshop brought together senior policymakers and regulators, private industry leaders and researchers to support Indonesia’s planned transition to E10 ethanol blending. Presentations and panel discussions addressed regulatory alignment for E10 implementation, ethanol pricing mechanisms, excise treatment of fuel-grade ethanol, infrastructure readiness and feedstock diversification strategies.
Drawing from experience in the Philippines where E10 is the standard blend, guest speakers from the Philippines Department of Energy emphasized the importance of predictable policy frameworks, coordinated public–private collaboration and transitional supply mechanisms to support mandate implementation.
“Indonesia’s 10-billion-gallon gasoline market represents significant potential for E10 and the meaningful economic, environmental and energy security benefits it will create. Ethanol offers a proven, immediately deployable solution that can complement Indonesia’s successful biodiesel program,” Wurth added.
Read more from USGBC here.