Cibinong - BRIN Public Relations. Prof. Wawan Sujarwo, a Principal Research Center for Ecology of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), revealed that Indonesia has thousands of types of local food, including at least 2,564 species of useful plants with the potential to be developed as food sources. Of those thousands of species, more than 77 are local sources of carbohydrates, along with hundreds of types of tubers, legumes, fruits, vegetables, spices, and traditional food crops that have adapted to local environmental conditions over hundreds to thousands of years.
According to Wawan, most of this potential remains underutilized. Yet, food diversification not only expands consumers’ choices but also enhances the resilience of the food system against climate change, supply disruptions, and market volatility.
“The development of local food is, in fact, an ecological, economic, and social strategy. Local food can strengthen community economies, preserve traditional knowledge, reduce the carbon footprint caused by long food distribution chains, and maintain crop genetic diversity which is crucial for future adaptation. This is the essence of sustainable development,” he stated during Jamming Session #10, themed “Local Food: A Resolution for Equitable and Sustainable Food Security,” held online on Thursday, (6/08)
Furthermore, Wawan noted that national food security remains a challenge that requires a more comprehensive approach. Amid efforts to increase food production, Indonesia possesses a wealth of local food resources rooted in local ecological knowledge and community traditions; however, their potential has not yet been fully harnessed to support the national food system.
Until
now, Wawan continued, food security has often been viewed solely as a
matter of increasing production. In fact, from an ecological
perspective, food security is actually rooted in ecosystem resilience.
“There is no food without healthy soil, no agriculture without available
water, no pollination without biodiversity, and no stable harvests
without a supportive climate. In other words, ecological functions are
the cornerstone of the entire food system,” he said.
On
the other hand, Wawan explained that Indonesia possesses a wealth of
biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge, which serve as vital
assets in strengthening national food security. According to him, the
development of local food systems must be supported by scientific data,
the results of ethnobotanical studies, and the knowledge of communities
that has been passed down through generations.
Wawan noted that various scientific data demonstrate a close relationship between ecosystem conditions and the sustainability of food production. Citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more than 95 percent of global food production depends on healthy soil. However, approximately one-third of the world’s agricultural land has been degraded due to erosion, declining soil fertility, and unsustainable land-use practices.
In addition, about 75 percent of the world’s food crops depend, either entirely or partially, on pollination services provided by insects and wildlife. According to him, the decline in pollinator populations due to habitat loss poses a real threat to agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, he emphasized that Indonesia, as a megabiodiversity nation, possesses immense ecological capital to support national food security. Its rich genetic resources, ecosystem diversity, and thousands of local food species are strategic assets that many countries lack.
Responding to the argument that conservation can reduce food production, Wawan explained that various research findings actually show the opposite. Healthy ecosystems can increase productivity in a sustainable manner. Soil rich in organic matter retains water and nutrients more effectively; well-preserved forests help maintain the hydrological cycle, thereby reducing the risk of drought; and biodiversity provides natural predators for pests, which helps reduce reliance on pesticides.
He added that agroecology, agroforestry, integrated landscape management, and regenerative agriculture have proven capable of increasing productivity while preserving environmental quality.
“Food security and conservation are not two conflicting goals, but rather two mutually reinforcing aspects of sustainable development. We need to shift from a paradigm of maximum production toward sustainable productivity that is, a food system that not only yields today’s harvest but also remains productive for future generations,” he explained.
Concluding his remarks, Wawan urged all participants to use the forum as a platform for fostering new collaborations through the exchange of ideas, data integration, innovation development, and the formulation of a joint research agenda to support adaptive, resilient, and sustainable land management in Indonesia.
This event also featured two speakers from outside BRIN who shared their experiences and perspectives on the development of local food in Indonesia. The first speaker, Ir. Haryanti Koostanto, a practitioner in community development and food security, delivered a presentation titled “Reflections on National Food Policies and Practices: Challenges and Opportunities for Local Food in an Equitable Food System.” In her presentation, Haryanti provided a critical yet constructive analysis of various national food policies and practices, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities for local food development to secure a more equitable role in realizing a fair and sustainable food system.
Next,
Britania Sari, a Self-Reliance Food Security Activist and Founder of
Kebun Atqiya, presented a session titled “Best Practices, Social
Innovation, and Grassroots Community Empowerment as Alternatives for
Sustainable Food Security.” Through her presentation, Britania shared
best practices and real world experiences in empowering communities
through the use of local food, ranging from optimizing home gardens to
strengthening Posyandu programs as part of efforts to build sustainable
food security at the community level.
May
today’s discussion yield new ideas that can be put into practice. Food
security is not just a matter of producing more food, but of ensuring
that ecosystems remain capable of producing food in a fair, adaptive,
and sustainable manner. In other words, food security is a reflection of
ecological resilience. (sh/ed.ade,jml)
Sumber: https://www.brin.go.id/en/news/129847/2564-plant-species-have-the-potential-to-be-developed-as-food-sources-77-of-which-are-sources-of-carbohydrates