Enhancing food security: Insight from food systems dialogue review in Indonesia

The Food Systems Dialogue Review in Indonesia took place at Hotel Borobudur, organized by the World Food Forum (WFF) Indonesia National Chapter in collaboration with the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Food Programme (WFP). Among the delegates from the chapter were Khodijah A. Zahir, a young entrepreneur, Hendri Surya Widcaksana, a young advocate and Farah Mutia Rachman, a young educator, each contributing their unique perspectives to the dialogue.

The event aimed to refine agrifood systems priorities to guide the 2024-2029 Indonesian National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) on food systems development activities. Its three key objectives were:

1. Defining agrifood systems transformation priorities that enhance food security for vulnerable groups.
2. Strengthening government initiatives to improve access to healthy diet.
3. Identifying current and future challenges in sustainable food production and consumption.

The event featured several sessions aimed at facilitating in-depth discussions. The opening presentation, titled “Food System Transformation in Indonesia”, was delivered by Jarot Indarto, the Director of Food and Agriculture at BAPPENAS. His insights set the stage for the subsequent panel discussion focused on “Food Transformation for Vulnerable Groups”.

This session brought together experts to discuss critical issues such as gaps in healthy and nutritious diets and the resilience of livelihoods. Joris Van Hees from WFP Indonesia provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced in ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to adequate nutrition. Furthermore, Dr. Sri Nuryanti from the National Food Agency addressed the multifaceted challenges in delivering food assistance to these groups, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies.

Risnawati Utami from OHANA Indonesia, a non-profit organization in Indonesia advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, stressed the importance of inclusive access to health and nutrition. Dr. Mulia Nurhasan from the Center for International Forestry Research talked about the sustainable food systems in West Papua, exploring the links between dietary transitions, food security and environmental sustainability.

Participants engaged in three breakout discussions focused on collaboration and problem-solving:

• Identifying vulnerable groups: highlighted those most affected by food insecurity, including disaster-prone communities, the marginally poor, women, children and individuals with disabilities.
• Identifying current and future challenges: explored pressing issues such as climate change, economic instability and social inequalities.
• Determining actions to improve access to healthy and nutritious foods: focused on actionable solutions to enhance food access and dietary quality.

Key takeaways included the establishment of a multi-stakeholder dialogue focused on agrifood systems transformation priorities and emphasizing the impacts on vulnerable groups. Several challenges were highlighted during the discussions, including significant obstacles in distributing food aid to vulnerable areas, the lack of sufficient health support for individuals with disabilities, deforestation leading to the depletion of local food sources and the pervasive issues of food loss and waste throughout the production process.

Considering these challenges, recommendations for future events emphasized the necessity of directly involving youth organizations and marginalized groups in decision-making and policy formulation. The event successfully opened avenues for youth, particularly for members of the chapter, to contribute their perspectives, suggestions and inputs toward a more effective agrifood systems transformation in Indonesia. The outcomes of this event will be instrumental in informing the RPJMN 2025-2029 draft, ensuring that the voices of young advocates are represented in policymaking.