Indonesia Launches Southeast Asia’s First World Food Forum National Chapter

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Indonesia has officially launched the World Food Forum Indonesia National Chapter in collaboration with the Executive Office of the President and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. This event marked the first national chapter launch in Southeast Asia and focused on emphasizing the role of youth as key players in ensuring the sustainability of Indonesia's agriculture sector and encouraging their involvement to highlight the importance of agricultural innovation.

Held in both online and offline formats, World Food Forum Indonesia National Chapter brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including young participants and experts with extensive experience in agriculture. The launch was signified by a placard conferment to Dr. Moeldoko, Presidential Chief of Staff of the Republic Indonesia, with the inscription "Stronger Together for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems," adopted from the Agricola Medal, which was recently conferred to President Joko Widodo by FAO Director General.

The discussions of the participants particularly emphasized the importance of transforming global food systems, exploring grassroot initiatives, digital innovations, and community-led projects that align with the global mission of the World Food Forum 2024. The talks also focused on the Farmers Regeneration Programme, highlighting the current situation in Indonesia, where over 135 million people, or more than 30% of the population, are engaged in agriculture, yet nearly 80% of farmers are aged 40 and above, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data from 2023. This context underscored the urgent need for sustainable practices in Indonesia's agriculture sector.

"I would like to tell the young people in this audience and across Indonesia: your future is in your hands. Agriculture is not just a field of work; it is a field of opportunity. The transformation of our food systems is a monumental challenge, but also is an opportunity for positive change. By taking part as one of the futures 'Petani Keren', we can create a brighter future for food and agriculture sector. Together, we can build a future where agriculture thrives, where innovation drives progress, and where food security is ensured for generations to come", stated Rajendra Aryal, Representative of FAO in Indonesia and Timor Leste.

“We are here to contribute in this initiative with the primary vision of promoting collaboration among all youth toward sustainable agrifood systems in Indonesia, as foreseen in the Indonesia Strategic National Pathway for Food Systems Transformation”, expressed Clara Citra Arundati, the Director of World Food Forum Indonesia.

The World Food Forum Indonesia National Chapter focused on addressing the essential sociocultural elements needed to build a youth-led platform in the agricultural sector as part of the initiatives leading up to the World Food Forum 2024.

It is also committed to advancing its initiatives with a focus on youth empowerment. As part of this commitment, they have two major programs set to launch in 2025. The first program is the Indonesia Food Academy (IFA), which will consist of a six-month intensive training. The second program is the Indonesia Food Forum (IFF), a national discussion forum that will promote collaboration in enhancing innovation and technology in the food sector by bringing together academics and practitioners at the same table.

In addition to these programs, World Food Forum Indonesia National Chapter aims to expand their influence by establishing university subchapters across Indonesia, targeting at least one subchapter on each major island within the next year.

Through these initiatives, the World Food Forum Indonesia National Chapter seeks to create a lasting impact on youth engagement and sustainable agricultural practices, building an inclusive platform that will enhance Indonesia's agrifood system for the benefit of all.