30 June 2026: In July 2024, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) provided several sugarcane varieties to PT Global Papua Abadi (GPA). This relationship with GPA was strictly transactional, conducted under a formal, written commercial agreement. However, this contract was terminated in November 2024, and SRA has had no further dealings with GPA since that time.
SRA retains all intellectual property rights with respect to the varieties that were provided to GPA.
As a research and development corporation (RDC), SRA routinely engages with international partners on behalf of Australia’s sugarcane industry, which includes sharing of sugarcane varieties.
The GPA contract was consistent at the time with SRA’s Strategic Plan (2021 – 2026) which aimed to expand international and commercial partnerships to support the profitability of the Australian sugar industry, and identify complementary and international markets for SRA’s varieties.
In its engagement with GPA, SRA identified an opportunity to strengthen industry’s biosecurity preparedness by transferring these sugarcane varieties for trial, providing a low-cost platform to conduct screenings for exotic pests and diseases, which present a threat to the Australian industry.
Due diligence was undertaken prior to the contract being entered into with GPA. At the time the agreement was signed, information available to us did not indicate that the arrangement would be connected to activities that would create human rights and environmental concerns.
Since SRA was made aware of human rights and environmental concerns with PT GPA in 2024, it has had no involvement with the company and has no intention, now or in the future, of engaging with it in any capacity, commercially or otherwise.
In response, SRA has reviewed its due diligence framework and has implemented measures to strengthen our risk assessments across future commercial relationships, including improving our contractual protections, bolstering the vetting of third parties, and enhancing monitoring processes through the life of commercial arrangements.
SRA treats human rights and environmental matters with the utmost seriousness and recognizes its responsibility to uphold strong governance.
