PT Sulawesi Optima Wirakarya (PT SOW) is – in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Indonesia and world-class genetics company DanBred – taking a significant step towards strengthening pig production in Indonesia.
After several challenging years for the Indonesian swine industry, marked by African Swine Fever (ASF) and reduced pig populations, the need for rebuilding production in a more resilient and sustainable way has become increasingly clear.
On 7 July 2026, 546 purebred DanBred pigs arrived in Manado, Indonesia. The import included all three DanBred breeds: DanBred Landrace, DanBred Yorkshire, and DanBred Duroc. These animals will form the basis for PT SOW as a certified DanBred multiplication, with semen supply completing the breeding programme.
Notably, this marks the first import of live pigs into Indonesia in more than 30 years – underlining both the scale of the initiative and the shared ambition to revitalise the industry.
Bringing genetics and knowledge closer to producers
With its operations in Indonesia, PT SOW is introducing a modern production approach focusing on biosecurity, animal welfare, and operational efficiency, combined with access to internationally recognised genetics from DanBred.
The ambition is not only to improve productivity, but also to contribute to a more stable and secure pig production – supporting farmers in rebuilding herds while strengthening long-term resilience across the sector.
“We are proud to take this important step together with our partners. Entering the Indonesian market allows us to support local producers with world-class genetics and, just as importantly, share knowledge that can help build a stronger and more sustainable pig production for the future,” says Henrik Nielsen from DanBred.
DanBred aims to always be close to the customers worldwide, and the strong collaboration with PT SOW helps ensure this. Together with this valuable partner, DanBred can bring support and technical expertise to the local pig producers in Indonesia.
Marking the launch with strong local and international support
On 14 July 2026, this milestone was marked with a successful launch event. At the inauguration were both local and international key industry partners, among others, the Vice Governor of North Sulawesi and the Speech Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Republic of Indonesia. The event highlighted the shared commitment to strengthening collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the future development of pig production in Indonesia.
Collaboration as the foundation for industry development
The initiative is built on close collaboration between PT SOW, DanBred, and the Danish Embassy in Indonesia, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening ties between Denmark and Indonesia within agriculture and food production.
Rather than competing with existing producers, the partnership aims to contribute to the wider ecosystem by improving access to high-quality breeding stock, supporting knowledge sharing, and creating opportunities for collaboration across the value chain.
With new genetics and a strong collaborative approach, the expectation is that the partnership will help lift productivity levels while contributing to a more robust and sustainable development of Indonesia’s pig industry in the years to come.
