Zulhas Asserts Food Security is Integral to National Identity and Indonesia's Development
Jakarta, VIVA – The Coordinating Minister for Food Security, Zulkifli Hasan, also known as Zulhas, stated that fulfilling food needs is a crucial part of the effort to build a self-sufficient Indonesia, while simultaneously preparing a healthy and productive human resource base.
Therefore, achievements in the food sector must be viewed as a stepping stone to strengthen a broader food agenda. “Food is a matter of life. But more than that, food is a matter of who we are as a nation,” said Zulhas in a statement on Friday, 4 September 2026.
Zulhas made these remarks during the launch of the book “Indonesian Food: From Healthy Plates to Superior Humans,” alongside the Presidential Special Assistant for Communication and Policy Analysis, Dirgayuza Setiawan, as part of the IdeaFest 2026 series.
The book discusses Indonesia’s food journey through nine strategic commodities: rice, maize, soybeans, ruminant meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and sugar. The discussion extends beyond production and consumption, linking these elements to nutritional fulfilment and the quality of Indonesia’s human resources.
One achievement highlighted in the book is national rice production. In 2025, rice production reached approximately 34 million tonnes, higher than the consumption requirement of around 31 million tonnes. This achievement serves as one of the foundations in Indonesia’s journey towards food sovereignty.
“But this achievement is not the finish line. This is the starting line for even greater work, building Indonesian food for the civilisation of the future,” he said.
Zulhas emphasised that developing a food ecosystem requires the involvement of various parties, ranging from farmers, fishermen, and business actors to academics and the general public.
“In addition to ensuring food availability, increasing public understanding regarding food sources and nutritional value is also part of these efforts,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dirgayuza stated that the book also views food as part of Indonesia’s historical journey and identity. The diversity of food sources is reflected in the differing consumption patterns of people across various regions.
In the process of writing the book, he found that several foods currently commonly consumed by the public have relatively recent histories. On the other hand, various local food sources such as sago, taro, breadfruit, foxtail millet, maize, and tubers have long been part of the dietary patterns of the Nusantara people.