ECU Leads International Research to Boost Beef Quality and Safety in Indonesia

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ECU Leads International Research to Boost Beef Quality and Safety in Indonesia

Tuesday, 16 September 2025

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What if better beef could boost both public health and global trade? That’s the bold vision behind a new ECU-led research project that’s set to transform Indonesia’s beef industry.

Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law has secured a major international research grant through the Western Australia – East Java University Consortium (WAEJUC) to improve the safety and quality of beef in Indonesia.

The project, Improving Beef Quality and Safety in Indonesia: An Integrated Assessment of Practices and Supply Chain Management Strategies, was one of only seven successful applications from 43 proposals submitted across 12 universities.

This research will track how beef moves from farms to markets and dinner tables, looking at how it’s stored, transported, and sold, and how to make every step of that journey safer and more reliable.

From Paddock To Plate

Led by Associate Professor Ferry Jie, the team will test practical solutions such as:

Better refrigeration and storage to keep meat fresh during transport.
Clearer tracking systems so beef can be traced back to its source if problems arise.
Stronger hygiene practices to protect public health.

By trialling improvements that local farmers, suppliers, and markets can adopt quickly, the project aims to support public health, increase consumer confidence, and make Indonesian beef more competitive on the global stage.

WA Expertise With Global Reach

The project shows how ECU research delivers results. By working directly with farmers, industry, and government in Indonesia, the team aims to:

Produce insights that can shape the way businesses and policymakers make decisions.
Strengthen ECU’s ties with Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.
Support wider goals in safer food, stronger supply chains, and healthier communities.

Associate Professor Jie said the success highlights the School’s commitment to practical, internationally connected research.

“By combining academic rigour with practical outcomes, this initiative showcases how ECU can lead globally connected research that makes a tangible difference to communities.”

Building Momentum

Funded by WAEJUC, the project builds on momentum from the consortium’s visit to Western Australian universities earlier this year.

It also adds to a series of international research successes for Associate Professor Jie in 2025, including projects on:

Halal cosmetics supply chains (Bank of Indonesia)
Indonesian coffee farmer governance (DFAT)
Gender disparity in human resource development (Airlangga University)
AI-based energy consumption prediction (Universitas Bina Nusantara)

A Global Role for ECU

For Associate Professor Jie and the School, the project is proof that research done in WA can shape healthier communities and stronger industries across borders.

School of Business and Law