BGN: Free Nutritious Meals Programme a strategic instrument to build Golden Generation 2045

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stated that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) does not only function as a programme to fulfil the community’s food needs, but also serves as a strategic instrument for national development to create a healthy, intelligent, productive, and competitive Indonesian generation towards the Indonesia Emas 2045 vision. “The MBG Programme is not just a food distribution programme, but a long-term state investment to build superior human resources. Through this programme, we want to produce a generation that is healthy, intelligent, disciplined, productive, and ready to face future challenges,” said Head of the BGN Legal and Public Relations Bureau, Khairul Hidayati, during an expert lecture for the Master of Law Programme at the National Security Faculty of the Republic of Indonesia Defence University (Unhan RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday. Hida stressed that national development is not solely determined by economic and defence strength, but also by the quality of a country’s human resources, making investment in nutritional fulfilment a strategic step in preparing the nation’s next generation. According to her, various studies show that proper nutritional fulfilment from an early age significantly impacts physical development, cognitive abilities, educational achievement, and an individual’s future productivity. Therefore, nutrition fulfilment policy must be viewed as an integral part of a sustainable national development strategy. Hida also noted that MBG is designed to reach priority target groups such as students, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. In addition to supporting stunting prevention and addressing other nutritional problems, this programme also contributes to improving learning concentration, immune system strength, and the quality of education for Indonesia’s young generation. “When nutritional needs are properly met, Indonesian children have a greater opportunity to grow optimally, achieve highly, and become human resources capable of competing on a global level. This is the main foundation for reaching Indonesia Emas 2045,” she explained. According to her, the success of the MBG Programme is not only measured by the number of beneficiaries, but also by its impact on strengthening national character and improving the quality of human resources. Therefore, its implementation requires a governance system that prioritises accountability, food safety, nutritional quality, and sustainable oversight. Hida added that the MBG Programme also holds strategic value in strengthening national resilience as the nation’s primary asset in facing various global challenges, ranging from economic competition and technological developments to threats affecting national stability. “Building a strong nation must begin with developing its people. Through the MBG Programme, the government is preparing the foundation for the birth of a superior generation that will become the drivers of development, guardians of national resilience, and determinants of Indonesia’s future,” she concluded.