MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Indonesia aspires to achieve food self-sufficiency and become a global food barn. To support the goal, Aisyiyah organized a national seminar on “Optimizing the Strategic Role of ‘Aisyiyah in Food Self-Sufficiency for People’s Welfare.”
Conducted on Saturday, December 21, at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, the seminar featured key speakers, including Yudi Sastro, Director General of Food Crops; Subejo, a Professor of Agriculture from Universitas Gadjah Mada; and Puji Lestari, Head of the Food Research Organization at BRIN. Also in attendance were ‘Aisyiyah Chairperson Latifah Iskandar and Rector of the Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Muchlas, M.T.
In her opening remarks, Latifah highlighted ‘Aisyiyah long-standing involvement in food security issues, which dates back to the Makassar Congress. She emphasized the need to support government initiatives and address pressing challenges such as food waste, with Indonesia ranking as the second-largest food waster globally.
“‘Aisyiyah has been addressing food issues since the Makassar Congress. Over the past two terms, we’ve actively contributed to finding solutions. With 51 million households needing food daily and the issue of food waste, we should work together to transform Indonesia into a just and advanced nation,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yudi Sastro highlighted the critical role of food security in national stability, stating that no country can thrive without a reliable food supply.
“Food self-sufficiency is a global and national priority. A nation without enough food will collapse. That’s why the president has stressed that we must achieve food self-sufficiency,” said Yudi.
He also emphasized that ensuring food security is not solely the government’s responsibility. Collaboration across all sectors is essential to achieving sustainable solutions.
“Building a food-secure Indonesia requires everyone’s involvement, including government, businesses, civil society, development partners, and communities. It’s a collective effort that demands innovation, commitment, and teamwork,” expressed Yudi.
