BRIN Prepares Research Kitchen for Food Security
The government is strengthening research collaboration to support the national food self-sufficiency target. This effort is being pursued through cooperation between the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, formalised through the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
The collaboration aims to synchronise research, technological innovation, and commercialisation of agricultural commodities to be more relevant to development needs and food security.
BRIN head Arif Satria described the agency as a centre providing research support for various ministry and agency programmes, particularly in the food sector. “BRIN is the kitchen. Once again, BRIN is the kitchen. We are ready to support all ministries and agencies in Indonesia. We have gathered the research themes needed, and some will begin implementation in 2026,” Satria said on Thursday (12 March).
According to Satria, technological needs and research form an important foundation for strengthening innovation in the agricultural sector, including supporting the government’s food self-sufficiency programme. He argued that strengthening the food sector cannot be done in isolation, as it requires involvement from many institutions. In his view, agriculture holds a strategic position in national development.
“Agriculture is civilisation. When agriculture becomes civilisation, then this sector truly must be placed as a very strategic sector. The symbol of civilisation will also be seen in how our agriculture progresses,” he said.
Beyond inter-ministerial cooperation, BRIN is also developing a research roadmap with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. This roadmap is expected to guide universities so that research conducted is more focused and does not overlap.
“Without a joint roadmap, we worry that research will overlap and not focus on solving problems. Research at BRIN is research for solutions, research for resolving various problems we find in the field,” Satria explained.
Additionally, the government research institute is conducting foresight studies and projecting future technologies to ensure the direction of national research aligns with global developments. These studies include developing new food technologies, including the concepts of future food and future protein as part of preparing a more resilient food system.
Satria noted that the agency has produced hundreds of patents and various innovations in the food sector with potential for industry and public use. “We want to encourage BRIN goes to industry and BRIN goes to stakeholders so that products already produced can truly be utilised in the field and have an impact on society,” he said.