India-Indonesia: From Tradition to Global Recognition – The Prospect of the Jamu and Ayurveda Partnership

A new paradigm of cooperation is developing between India and Indonesia in bioresource management, innovative farming, and renewable energy, complementing traditional sectors like defence, bilateral trade, and other strategic partnerships. Notably, some seaweed harvesting companies facing regulatory challenges in India have found it easier to operate from Indonesia, illustrating how these emerging fields offer practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration. This new wave of cooperation promises to strengthen and bridge gaps in bilateral ties, enhancing both nations' capacities to address shared challenges and foster sustainable growth.

Indonesia’s 1700 islands’ biodiversity is one of the richest in the world, with an estimated more than 30,000 plant species and millions of maritime resources, of which over only 2,000 have documented medicinal uses. This incredible natural wealth has given rise to a unique traditional medicine system called “Jamu”. Passed through generations, Jamu represents a traditional healthcare system, a cultural practice deeply embedded in Indonesian identity, and the local wisdom they proudly call "kearifan lokal”. The Jamu extractors and growers have been in this profession for generations and have the expertise to extract, process and prepare the final applicable form of the medicine. They produce medicine, work as vendors, and roam around the populace, diagnosing ailments and then going for treatment. This Jamu community, popularly called "ahli Jamu or tukang Jammu", have long provided people with natural remedies for various ailments, from minor issues like colds and fevers to chronic conditions such as arthritis, eczematic and fungal issues and various tropical complexities. However, as Indonesia advances economically and socially, the sustainability of this tradition, which involves millions of skilled human resources, faces significant threats. Indonesia's traditional medicine industry substantially depends upon traditional Jamu extractors and vendors.

Jamu is a deeply rooted local tradition that utilizes a wide variety of Indonesia's medicinal plants, carefully harvested and formulated into natural remedies by local healers. With an estimated one million Jamu practitioners across Indonesia, this traditional medicine system provides accessible and affordable health solutions, particularly in rural areas where modern medical facilities may be limited. Despite its significance, Jamu faces numerous challenges, jeopardizing its sustainability and growth.

The depletion of expertise and Jamu extractors is primarily driven by rapid urban development and shifting economic opportunities. As rural populations migrate to urban areas for higher wages, they often leave behind their traditional practices, including the specialized knowledge of Jamu extraction and their preparation for end use. While urban jobs offer immediate cash and stability, they require a shift to new industries, leaving Jamu practitioners needing help to apply their unique skills in these unfamiliar urban environments. This transition erodes traditional knowledge over time and creates a significant gap in community empowerment, as individuals lose their roles as custodians of Indonesia's traditional medicine heritage. Compounding this issue is the rise of smaller and larger companies capitalising on the high demand for herbal products. These companies often exploit local resources by overharvesting specific herbs, threatening biodiversity, and monopolising resources traditionally harvested by Jamu practitioners. Furthermore, many of these companies are securing patents on specific herbal formulations, depriving traditional Jamu extractors and growers of the rights and recognition for their knowledge. Commercialising Indonesia's medicinal plants disrupts traditional practices and undermines the economic empowerment of rural communities that have relied on Jamu for generations.

Another pressing issue is the need for a formalised structure for traditional medicine in Indonesia, limiting the potential for development and commercialisation. Unlike India's Ayurveda, which is highly organised and supported by educational institutions, regulatory frameworks, and research bodies, Jamu operates mainly in an informal setting. Formal organisation is necessary for Jamu to be recognised and circulated globally, as it needs standardised formulations, documented practices, and regulatory oversight. These elements are necessary for Jamu to remain a domestic tradition with limited reach despite the high demand for herbal medicines in international markets.

In addition, Indonesia’s medicinal plants face threats from biopiracy and exploitation. The rich biodiversity that supports Jamu has attracted interest from foreign corporations, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, who seek to patent bioactive compounds without fair compensation to local communities. This practice, often called biopiracy, undermines Indonesia's sovereignty over its bioresources and risks displacing local practitioners who rely on these resources for their livelihoods. Protecting these resources is crucial to safeguard Indonesia's knowledge, tradition, and cultural heritage and ensure that the benefits of its bioresources remain within the country.

IIBC (Indonesia-India Bioresource Consortium), a newly established technical institute in Bandung under the Padjajaran University (UNPAD), aims to address these challenges by implementing a structured, protective framework for Indonesia’s traditional medicine sector. By cataloguing medicinal plants, establishing regulatory standards, and training practitioners, IIBC seeks to elevate Jamu to the same level of global recognition as Ayurveda. This project presents a unique opportunity for Indonesia to transform its traditional medicine sector into an organised, resilient industry, empowering local communities and generating economic opportunities. With IIBC's support, Indonesia can digitally map its bioresource, revitalize the Jamu sector, and empower the community.

IIBC is a strategic initiative designed to address these challenges by creating a structured, legally protected framework for preserving, developing, and commercialising Indonesia's traditional medicine. The institute, with the project on streamlining the traditional medicine sector, a partnership between Indonesia and India, seeks to draw upon the strengths of India's well-established Ayurvedic system, which has been internationally recognised for its effectiveness and structured organisation. Ayurveda, rooted in over 5,000 years of Indian history, is an extensive body of knowledge encompassing herbal medicine, dietary practices, lifestyle management, and spiritual healing. India's success in building a regulated, globally respected alternative medicine sector provides a model for organising Indonesia's Jamu practices within a similarly structured framework.

India's expertise in Ayurveda offers numerous benefits for developing Indonesia's traditional medicine sector. While Ayurveda has long been recognised for its therapeutic benefits, it has also achieved prominence globally as a structured, science-backed alternative medicine. More than 70% of India's 1.3 billion population regularly uses non-allopathic healthcare systems, such as Ayurveda and other traditional therapies, underscoring the importance of alternative medicine within India's healthcare landscape. This extensive, organised framework includes standardized formulations, documented practices, and a robust regulatory framework that has been vital in promoting Ayurveda as a legitimate and effective medical system.

By collaborating with Indian experts and scientists, the IIBC project aims to replicate these organizational successes for Indonesia's traditional medicine sector, bringing Jamu practices into a regulated and scientifically validated framework. The project envisions the creation of a comprehensive digital catalogue of medicinal plants, DNA profiling to protect bioresources, and a biobank and a museum to conserve Indonesia’s vast biodiversity. Furthermore, IIBC envisions training Jamu practitioners in modern methodologies, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to an organised bioresource economy while preserving traditional knowledge. This initiative could open new avenues for Indonesia in global healthcare markets, contributing to local economic growth while safeguarding its rich cultural heritage. By learning from India's success in Ayurveda, Indonesia can create a resilient, inclusive, and globally respected traditional medicine sector that serves local and international communities.

Beyond these immediate benefits, the collaboration between Indonesia and India through IIBC can establish a Joint Medicinal Bank (JMB), a shared repository of medicinal plants and formulations that would benefit both nations and the global community. Such a repository would provide ethically sourced, scientifically validated herbal resources accessible to researchers, practitioners, and patients worldwide. This cooperation embodies the shared values of both countries in promoting wellness and preserving cultural heritage, demonstrating how traditional knowledge, when organized and protected, can contribute significantly to global health solutions. Even though it is a far-fetched idea, the proper investment in such a field can be a boon in the healthcare sector in achieving its sustainable development goal (SDG) if appropriately executed.

India’s Possible Role: Leveraging Ayurveda to Strengthen Indonesia’s Bioresource Sector

India's expertise in Ayurveda offers invaluable insights and guidance for structuring and strengthening Indonesia's traditional medicine sector. Ayurveda, which translates to "the science of life," is one of the oldest healthcare systems in the world, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It encompasses a range of practices, including herbal remedies, dietary guidelines, lifestyle recommendations, and holistic wellness approaches. This extensive, organised body of knowledge has gained international recognition and is increasingly used as a complementary therapy in developing and developed countries. Ayurveda's success in achieving global prominence is a model for organizing and formalizing Indonesia's Jamu sector.

In India, Ayurveda is supported by a comprehensive regulatory framework that includes standardised practices, quality control mechanisms, and an established education system for training practitioners. Ayurvedic institutions, regulated by India's Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), ensure that practitioners receive rigorous training and adhere to standardized treatment protocols. This organised structure has allowed Ayurveda to achieve credibility as a reliable and effective alternative medicine system within India and internationally.

By collaborating with Indian Ayurvedic practitioners, researchers, and regulatory experts, Indonesia may adopt best practices in standardisation, documentation, and quality control. Indian experts can assist in designing a regulatory framework that includes quality assurance protocols and standardised formulations for Jamu, making them safer and more consistent. These measures would protect consumers and elevate its credibility in international markets, allowing Indonesia to tap into the growing global demand for natural and alternative therapies.

Moreover, India's expertise in creating educational frameworks for Ayurveda can be a foundation for building similar institutions in Indonesia. Through IIBC, Indonesian practitioners can be trained in standardised Jamu practices, helping to preserve traditional knowledge while ensuring that it is passed down in an organized manner. This formalized training can empower a new generation of Jamu practitioners to carry forward Indonesia's traditional medicine with enhanced skills and knowledge. Establishing educational programmes would also help bridge the generational gap caused by urban migration, ensuring that traditional practices continue to thrive.

The Indian Ambassador, Mr Chakravorty, highlights a critical distinction between Jamu and Ayurveda. While both are rooted in tradition, Jamu remains informal mainly, whereas Ayurveda has evolved into a formalised system of medicine. The ambassador emphasizes the need for collaboration to formalize Jamu, leveraging its traditional knowledge and integrating it into structured frameworks similar to those established for Ayurveda. This partnership could enhance Jamu's global recognition and scientific validation, fostering mutual growth in traditional medicine systems.

Indonesia and India, both endowed with tropical climates, share a wealth of common herbal plants, yet the geodiversity and variations in soil fertility across their regions impart unique properties to these resources. Collaborative efforts in traditional medicine offer immense potential to harness these differences, creating knowledge-based products grounded in local wisdom. The Indonesia-India Bioresource Consortium (IIBC) serves as a pioneering platform to facilitate such collaborations, aiming to preserve biodiversity, empower local communities, and advance the global recognition of traditional medicines. With its scalable framework, IIBC presents a model for similar initiatives across Southeast Asia, fostering regional innovation and sustainable development.

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