Flagship Report:
Imagining the future of Indonesian food systems
In an effort to address the gaps between research findings and existing practices in the field of food systems and sustainable development in Indonesia, foodagogik conducted a Delphi study from January to March 2024 that centered on the following question: Which food system entry points are likely to be effective, impactful, and strategic to transform the current Indonesian food systems and can provide a positive climate and health co-benefits within the next 10 years?
It aims to 1) present a consensus over effective food system entry points in Indonesia for achieving better health and environmental sustainability and 2) provide future research directions based on a collective, positive vision for food system transformation specific to Indonesian contexts. The research process was included as part of our 2024 Work Program and was facilitated by the initial funding sources without any support from external parties.
Keywords: sustainable food systems transformation, food system dynamics, food system leverage points, Delphi study, Indonesian food systems
Chapter list
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The Introduction section outlines the theoretical framework of the food system as a dynamic, socio-ecological system and operationalizes the notion of ‘transformation’ through the lenses of vulnerability and resilience, specifically within the Indonesian contexts. Several key points are defined here that will be referenced throughout the remainder of the paper.
Food has changed the trajectory of our world. On the production side, it contributes to about a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a major driver of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, freshwater depletion, and the crossing of other planetary boundaries crucial to maintaining Earth's stability. On the consumption side, over 820 million people lack adequate food, and more than 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. The increasing availability of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is contributing to the rise of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, resulting in up to 11 million deaths annually.
If current trends continue, along with the impacts of climate change, population growth, aging, increased body mass, and wasteful consumption patterns, global food production is projected to increase from 30 to 45 Exajoules by 2050. This Global Syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change poses one of the most severe challenges to human health, environmental sustainability, and the future of the planet in the 21st century, and food lies at the center of it.
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Chapter 1 discusses current Indonesian food systems and the specific issues of concern affecting food system outcomes, particularly those related to diets, nutrition, health, economic development, societal change, and environmental sustainability. It exposes the elements of Indonesian food systems and possible missing links that have thus far been underexplored and/or undocumented. It then proposes what sustainable transformation constitutes for the Indonesian context.
Indonesia faces complex challenges related to food security, climate change, and public health. As the population grows and the country remains highly vulnerable to climate change, building a resilient food supply chain is essential to support the projected population of 319 million by 2045. Current policies addressing food, climate, and health issues are inadequate, calling for greater cooperation among key stakeholders—government, industry, academia, and Indigenous communities—to ensure the well-being of both people and the environment. This collaboration is vital for achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.
Climate change is a major factor driving changes in Indonesian food systems, with the country consistently ranking among the top ten greenhouse gas emitters. In addition to emissions, the loss of biodiversity is worsening environmental impacts on the food system. On the health front, Indonesia shares many diet-related public health challenges seen in industrialized nations, including malnutrition and rising diet-related diseases. Addressing these issues requires a deeper examination of the interconnected factors within both environmental and health systems.
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Chapter 2 examines the ten food system entry points identified in the Delphi study and the rationale behind their effectiveness based on existing literature. It also introduces two additional entry points deemed significant from an extensive literature search. It highlights the dynamics across these entry points to provide information about the relevance of these relationships for identifying potential enablers and barriers of implementing them within the current food system and for developing approaches to mitigate associated risks.
Although a global shift toward plant-forward diets, improved food production practices, and reduced food loss and waste are proposed as actionable entry points for transforming global food systems, the Indonesian food systems may demand different key entry points for change that accommodate more of its local and regional realities. Our report reveals that ten food system entry points were identified as very important (rated 9 on the Likert scale) and have the potential to support Indonesia in achieving better health and greater environmental sustainability within the next 10 years (listed below by order of consensus). Consensus was reached for three entry points, namely 1) encouraging the role of youth, 2) diversifying agriculture and increasing land productivity, and 3) supporting the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of sustainable food policies.
During our extensive literature search, two additional entry points were identified, namely 1) creating enabling food environments and 2) leveraging science and research for transformation. These entry points were not specified in the Delphi study but were widely discussed as crucial in the sustainable food systems discourse.
All twelve entry points maintain a dynamic interplay and thus are not mutually exclusive. These overlaps reflect the interconnectedness between food system variables and their causal relationships that cannot be viewed in siloes.
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Chapter 3 outlines the pathways toward sustainable transformation through science and research. It proposes the final Indonesian Sustainable Food Systems Framework as adapted from the framework in Chapter 1 and presents the critical role of science and research in accelerating the achievement of three key outputs necessary for realizing the desired food systems outcomes. It also provides the relevant approaches and methodologies that have proved successful in catalyzing transformation across various contexts, along with priority research direction to be prioritized in the next decade.
Previous chapters have demonstrated that a transformation toward more inclusive, nourishing, and regenerative food systems is not only desirable but also offers multiple benefits for Indonesia. Achieving this transformation necessitates major transitions in the engagement of youth and other vulnerable groups in food systems activities, agrifood production, agrifood policies, supply chains, and food environments. This chapter explores how science and research can facilitate these crucial changes, particularly by 1) boosting local capacity for sustainable food systems while enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, 2) strengthening the governance of food systems through collaborative, multistakeholder, multisectoral approaches across various scales, and 3) enhancing interfaces between science, policy, and practice in local food systems to ensure the replicability of successful practices across Indonesia.
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In Indonesia, the food system faces critical challenges, including high GHG emissions, significant biodiversity loss, and a triple burden of malnutrition. Addressing these issues necessitates targeted interventions, which we have identified as priority entry points for accelerating transformation. These include encouraging the active involvement of youth, diversifying agriculture while enhancing land productivity, and supporting the effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of sustainable food policies. To maximize the impact of these strategies, it is essential to advance scientific research that underpins them, ensuring transparency in documenting research questions, methodologies, analyses, and results.
The next decade should focus on establishing a more comprehensive and contextually relevant evidence base for food system science in Indonesia. This involves developing evidence-generating methods that are robust and tailored to local constraints and needs, ultimately leading to actionable insights across various scales. Generating sufficient evidence to inform real-world decisions is vital for driving meaningful change. Because food systems are inherently diverse, characterized by various segments and networks of producers, traders, processors, retailers, and consumers that operate differently across geographical contexts and value chains, embracing complexity and obtaining more than mere science-based understanding and analysis of how components in the system interact is essential for transforming the future of Indonesian food systems.