SGU develops Sinergizi to strengthen local food security
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Swiss German University (SGU), together with the Tangerang Regency Government and Japan’s Hokkaido University, is developing the Sinergizi concept to improve community nutrition while building food security and empowering the local economy.
“Through Sinergizi, we want to show that food technology innovation can not only improve the nutritional quality of the community, but also create economic added value by making use of local food ingredients and empowering communities,” SGU Rector Associate Professor Samuel P Kusumocahyo said, as quoted in Jakarta on Thursday.
Samuel further explained that Sinergizi is designed as a policy that could be formalised in a regent’s regulation to encourage regional economic growth through innovation in food, nutrition and agriculture. Sinergizi integrates food technology innovation, better community nutrition and economic empowerment.
As part of efforts to develop Sinergizi, SGU is conducting a trial of an innovative high-protein seasoning powder made from tempe semangit, or over-fermented tempeh. The product will subsequently be reformulated using local food ingredients from Tangerang Regency.
The product’s development is also designed to involve low-income communities in the processing stage. Using local ingredients is expected to increase demand for local agricultural and food products while creating income opportunities for people involved in the production chain.
As part of the collaboration, a delegation visited Japan from 1 to 7 October 2026. The programme included discussions with the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Global Food Resources and the Sapporo City Government to study agricultural policies and food-supply governance for government programmes.
The collaboration is also exploring the development of Tangerang Regency as a living laboratory to test and implement research-based innovations in food, nutrition and agriculture in line with local needs.
The development of Sinergizi is part of a collaborative project funded by LPDP with Rp1.2 billion for the period from June 2026 to June 2027. The Tangerang Regency Government is also providing funding support for a complementary programme.
The strategic collaboration between SGU, the Tangerang Regency Government and Hokkaido University is planned to proceed under a five-year roadmap running through 2031.