WFF Indonesia Youth Chapter launches the Indonesia Food Academy

The World Food Forum (WFF) Indonesia Youth Chapter launched the first session of Indonesia Food Academy (IFA) 2025 on 6 April, marking the beginning of a six-month virtual training series. Developed as a capacity-building initiative, IFA aims to empower young leaders to identify local agrifood systems challenges, design sustainable and innovative interventions, and implement practical actions that drive measurable impact. From nearly 900 applicants, 100 young participants were selected from across Indonesia to join the programme.

The session opened with remarks from Ardila Syakirah, National Communication Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Indonesia, who emphasized the urgent need for farmer regeneration and applauded the Chapter for its leadership. The session also introduced participants to the Chapter's goals and structure and provided an overview of the IFA learning journey.

This dynamic launch set the tone for the entire programme, fostering a vibrant atmosphere for connection, learning and shared commitment to agrifood systems transformation.

Session 2: Learning from the past to shape the future

The second session, held in April, explored the evolution of Indonesia’s agrifood systems. Dr Ageng Herianto, Assistant FAO Representative in Indonesia and academic at Universitas Gadjah Mada, outlined the shift from food security to food sovereignty, tracing policy developments from the Green Revolution through the 2012 Food Law. He highlighted the continued tension between quantity-driven approaches and sustainable, equitable agrifood systems that address nutrition, biodiversity and access.

Dr Herianto also reflected on Indonesia’s engagement in the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit and the country’s current reform pathway, which prioritizes local food, education on healthy diets and food tech innovation.

In the same session, young entrepreneur Gunawan Wibisono shared his journey from IT graduate to agripreneur. He tackled the challenges of farmer regeneration and identified key barriers to youth participation, including low income and negative perceptions of farming. He shared youth-focused initiatives like the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Services programme, which supports hands-on training and entrepreneurship in agriculture.

Participants then joined breakout discussions to reflect on youth engagement in policy, local food advocacy and community nutrition. The session reaffirmed IFA’s commitment to bridging policy and practice while building leadership from within.

Session 3: Promoting sustainable practices for food security

In May, IFA held its third session on sustainable crop practices. Setiari Marwanto, Head of the Research Center for Plantation at the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia, opened the session with staggering statistics - more than 23 million Indonesians remain food insecure and over 20 percent of children suffer from stunting. He emphasized that agriculture must play a central role in national development and resilience, warning of threats like climate change, land conversion and outdated technologies. Marwanto shared climate-smart techniques such as crop diversification, agroforestry and soil conservation to build long-term sustainability.

Elvira Sari Dewi, a doctoral researcher at the University of Göttingen, expanded on crop diversification as a vital strategy to protect nutrition, soil health and biodiversity. She called for inclusive and participatory approaches tailored to local realities, urging youth to lead by adapting science into practice.

Looking ahead

The first three IFA sessions have laid a strong foundation for youth leadership in Indonesia’s agrifood systems transformation. By connecting government experts, academics, practitioners and young changemakers, the IFA continues to serve as a platform for collaboration, learning and action.

As the programme continues in the months ahead, the Chapter remains committed to empowering youth to become the next generation of food leaders, driving sustainable, equitable and resilient agrifood systems across the country and beyond.