UGM Expert: Animal Protein Plays Vital Role in Human Development
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - An expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has stated that animal protein plays an irreplaceable role in human development, as its intake contributes significantly to improving the quality of human resources (SDM).
“In the Indonesian context, increasing animal protein consumption is not merely a matter of dietary preference, but a part of the national development strategy,” said the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, Prof. Budi Guntoro, in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.
The Professor of Socio-Economics of Animal Husbandry at UGM noted that animal protein intake contributes greatly to child growth, the prevention of stunting, and the overall improvement of human resource quality. “Therefore, limiting access to these protein sources actually risks slowing down efforts to improve the quality of future generations,” he said.
He stated that, nationally, protein consumption in Indonesia has ranged between 61 and 62 grams per capita per day in recent years, a figure that slightly exceeds the national protein adequacy standard of approximately 57 grams per day. However, he noted that the consumption structure shows significant inequality. Approximately 62 per cent of protein comes from plant-based sources, while only 38 per cent comes from animal protein.
“Meat consumption is only about four to five grams per day, and total animal protein ranges from 17 to 18 grams per capita per day. This shows that Indonesia’s problem is not an excess of animal protein consumption, but rather a deficiency, particularly in terms of nutritional quality,” he said.
Budi remarked that, in a global context, this condition reveals a striking disparity. Developed nations have much higher levels of animal protein consumption and, in many cases, have already reached excessive levels. Nevertheless, the narrative of reducing meat consumption is being promoted globally without differentiation.
“As a result, developing countries like Indonesia, which are still striving to improve the nutritional quality of their population, are being pushed towards the same policy direction,” he said.
According to him, the solution lies in improving production systems; for instance, livestock farming can be developed to be more efficient, based on local resources, low-emission, and integrated with sustainable agricultural systems. “With this approach, increasing animal protein consumption can go hand in hand with environmental conservation efforts,” he concluded.