Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs promotes downstream processing and food research on university campuses

Purwokerto (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) is promoting the strengthening of downstream processing and university-based food research to maintain national food security in the face of increasingly challenging global dynamics.

“Praise be to God, amid the global situation that has become difficult for almost all countries, Indonesia’s food supply is secure. We have 4.7 million tonnes of rice, this year’s production, God willing, will be higher than last year, there is sufficient fish, eggs, chicken, and plenty of vegetables and fruits,” he said in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, on Saturday.

Zulhas was present at the Auditorium of Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto (UMP), Banyumas Regency, Central Java, as the keynote speaker at the National Seminar titled “Strengthening Food Security in Indonesia and the Role of Muhammadiyah in Building a Sustainable Food Availability Ecosystem.”

He stated that this situation demonstrates that national food security remains intact, even as several countries face pressures due to conflicts and global supply chain disruptions.

According to him, strengthening food security in the future will not only rely on availability but also on sustainable production through innovation and research.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration with universities in developing superior varieties and agricultural technologies, including research on rice, coconut, cocoa, maize, and other plantation commodities.

“To demonstrate sustainable food security, we need research, new rice varieties, superior coconut seeds, chocolate, maize, and so on. Of course, we must collaborate with all universities,” he said.

He also encouraged the development of simple technologies for managing organic waste into fertiliser to support agricultural sector productivity.