Breadfruit Touted as Indonesia's Local Superfood for Future Food Security

Amid increasingly tangible climate change challenges and the urgent need to strengthen national food security, breadfruit is emerging as a strong candidate for the food of the future. This local fruit is considered worthy of the title of Indonesia’s original superfood due to its nutritional superiority and resilience. Professor Edi Santosa from IPB University explained that breadfruit meets three main criteria for a superfood. “Based on various studies and field observations, breadfruit fulfills these three criteria,” he stated. From a health perspective, breadfruit offers a superior nutritional profile compared to several other popular carbohydrate sources. It has a low glycaemic index, making it good for controlling blood sugar, and is rich in fibre and vitamin C. Some research even indicates the presence of other essential micronutrients needed in national nutrition intervention programmes. Prof Edi noted that breadfruit has better nutritional content than cassava, though he stressed that each local food has its own advantages and should complement each other in people’s consumption patterns. A key strategic advantage of breadfruit is its remarkable adaptability. As a perennial tree, it can thrive in areas with high rainfall as well as dry regions like East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), making it a reliable crop in extreme weather. “With relatively minimal care, breadfruit trees can produce fruit almost all year round,” he added. Beyond direct consumption, the economic potential of breadfruit lies in downstream processing, particularly into flour. Breadfruit flour is highly flexible and can be processed into various modern food products such as bread and noodles, opening up wider industrial market opportunities. However, for the fresh fruit export market, Prof Edi acknowledged significant challenges remain. Massive promotion is needed so that international consumers understand how to process and consume breadfruit, similar to the success of jackfruit in penetrating global markets. “What is needed now is strengthening promotion, food culture, and industry. Festivals or competitions based on breadfruit could be a step to increase its popularity,” he concluded, emphasising the important role of mass media in introducing breadfruit as a source of pride for Indonesia.