Food Sovereignty Urgent

Food sovereignty based on local food diversification will develop local food industries and the people’s independence, which are critical to the sustainability of the nation’s socioeconomic security.

Kompas/ Riza Fathoni

A food vendor serves customers on Thursday (22/2) in Jatinegara, Jakarta. Foods such as sweet potatoes, peanuts and corn are rarely found in urban areas. They can be alternative food sources for rice and wheat flour.

Food diversification can no longer be put on hold. Many benefits will follow, especially in raising the quality of human resources.

Despite Indonesia’s wealth of local food sources, a majority of Indonesians consume rice and wheat as sources of carbohydrates. The New Order’s food policy was aimed at achieving self-sufficiency, despite the fact that it focused too much on rice, and in the past 13 years, the government has narrowed its food policy to focus on several commodities, i.e. rice, soybean, corn, sugar and beef.