Development of National Food Industry as a Strategy for Food Diversification in Indonesia

Abstract

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as a condition when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food security should be developed utilizing local resources, having strong backward-linkages with local food industry systems. Considering the abundant natural resources, food security program should be directed toward establishing food diversification to reduce dependency on only one (or two) food commodities - especially rice in the case of Indonesia. Food diversification by development of food industry has a big potential impact in improving food security. This impact is closely associated with capability and competences of food industry in developing and operating food business to ensure better value and more diversified food, leading to better food availability, food accessibility, food utilization. For better food security, consequently, promotion of food diversification thru partnership in the development of food industry is needed.