Tempe industry needs modernizing: Tunky<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo says
\nIndonesia needs to modernize its tempe industry to keep pace with
\nthe growing popularity of the soybean-based food both here and
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
In his keynote address to a seminar on soybean consumption on
\nSaturday, Tunky called for caution in government approaches to
\nthe tempe industry, which is still largely based on traditional
\nmethods and small-scale production.<\/p>\n
\"We need to allocate special and serious attention to this
\nmatter, because, on the one hand we need to preserve the tempe
\nindustry -- which is run largely by the people, provides quite a
\nlot of employment and provides additional revenues to families --
\nbut, on the other hand, the tempe industry needs to be modernized
\nto meet the challenges of the globalization era,\" the minister
\nsaid in his speech, which was read by Director General of
\nAgricultural Processing Industry Anang Lukmana.<\/p>\n
For generations, the fermented soybean cake has been an
\nimportant part of the Indonesian diet, particularly in Java,
\nwhere the processing method was developed.<\/p>\n
Once considered an inferior meat substitute, tempe is gaining
\nin popularity, both in Indonesia and abroad, because it is high
\nin protein and low in cholesterol.<\/p>\n
Tunky said that in 1994 there were 94,000 small-scale or
\nhousehold industries manufacturing tempe in Indonesia, employing
\na total of 266,000 people.<\/p>\n
Value added is high in the tempe industry, Tunky said, with
\nthe Rp 1,410 billion ($613 million) spent on raw materials being
\nused to create products worth Rp 6,345 billion ($2.8 million).<\/p>\n
Because of the huge demand of tempe and other soybean-based
\nproducts, Indonesia consumes 2.3 million tons of soybeans per
\nannum, of which 600,000 tons are imported from China, Brazil,
\nArgentina and the United States.<\/p>\n
K.D.R. Setchell, a professor in the department of pediatrics
\nof the University of Cincinatti in the United States, told
\nSaturday's seminar that soy protein has been proven to actually
\nlower a person's cholesterol level.<\/p>\n
There are also circumstantial indications that soybeans
\nprevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases, Sethcell said.<\/p>\n
\"There is no question that soybean protein lowers cholesterol
\nand is beneficial in preventing cancer and cardiovascular
\ndiseases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The seminar was jointly sponsored by the ministry of industry,
\nthe ministry of food affairs and the American Soybean
\nAssociation. It was held at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\nand attended by participants representing the government, the
\nprivate sector and health experts.<\/p>\n
Setchell said that research on animals has shown soybeans to
\nalso be very effective in preventing diabetes and kidney
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
Unlike Indonesia and most other Asian countries, in which
\nsoybeans are a nutritional mainstay, in the U.S. the beans have
\nbeen used mostly for animal feed, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Many diseases that are a major cause of death in the United
\nStates have a very low incidence in Asia,\" Setchell said, adding
\nthat he hoped that his research would prove that biologically
\nactive contents of soybeans explain that fact.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to convince Americans and the Western world in
\ngeneral that there are tremendous benefits to be had from
\nincluding soybeans in the diet,\" he said. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tempe-industry-needs-modernizing-tunky-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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