Slash the silos: Greater food industry collaboration needed in SEA to mitigate climate and supply threats

As global challenges in food security escalate, the Indonesia-World Food Summit, held on September 5, 2024, at Fi Asia Indonesia, gathered key stakeholders from across the food industry, academia, government, and the private sector to discuss pathways toward a resilient and future-ready food system in South East Asia.

Opening the summit, Dr Sri Nuryanti, director of Food Insecurity Control at Indonesia’s National Food Agency, highlighted the urgent need for synergy across sectors to confront the region’s food security issues.

Dr Nuryanti also introduced one of the National Food Agency’s key initiatives, the Intervention for Handling Food and Nutrition Insecurity with Regional Budget, a financial mechanism designed to tackle food crises.

State-owned enterprises like Perum BULOG were highlighted as crucial players in stabilising food supplies and prices, ensuring affordability for consumers while securing fair compensation for farmers and fishermen.

The interconnectedness of the supply chain was further addressed by Dr Nuryanti, who mentioned ID Food, a state-owned enterprise created in 2022.

Its goal is to bridge the gap between producers – farmers, fishers, and breeders – and retail markets, providing upscaling opportunities for retailers.

“We must work together – government, private companies, and local communities – to address the risks from geopolitics, climate change, and supply disruptions,”​ Dr Nuryanti said.

Collaborative solutions across borders​

The panel discussion, moderated by Luke Tay, founder of Cornucopia FutureScapes, focused on strengthening food systems in Asia through global cooperation.

Tay introduced the concept of the “Four Ds” – Design, Development, Dough, and Deals – as key to achieving resilience and sustainability.

Tay’s first “D” – Design – called for innovative approaches to South East Asia’s food systems.

This sentiment was echoed by Dr Nasir Latif, Chairman of Farmfresh Industries, stressed that “working in silos has hindered regional progress”, calling for greater cooperation across borders. This was in response to the first D mentioned by Tay, where he highlighted the need for new designs in the region’s food systems.

The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) was cited as a key example of cross-border collaboration, designed to spur development in underdeveloped areas while allowing easier regional connectivity.

“BIMP-EAGA provides a platform for the private sector to address challenges in trade, tourism, and investment,” said ​Dr Latif. The programme enables better integration, reducing the need for negotiations with individual countries, addressing the ‘silo’ issue.

Sustainability through innovation​

The second “D” – Development – was a focal point as the conversation turned to sustainability.

Ribut Purwanti, Deputy Chair for Sustainability and Social Impact at GAPMMI (Indonesia’s Food & Beverage Association), highlighted key post-pandemic trends such as the rise of nutricosmetics, mood-enhancing ingredients, and plant-based innovations.

However, Purwanti stressed that the industry still grapples with challenges like environmental inequality and volatile commodity prices.

“Human well-being and the health of the planet are threatened,”​ Purwanti said, underlining the need for sustainable strategies in food production and distribution.

Adding to the discussion, Amalia Mimbar, a key expert from the Technical Assistance Facility to the Green Team Europe Initiative (TAF-GTEI), provided insights into the EU’s role in South East Asia’s shift toward climate-resilient food systems.

Backed by a budget of USD 7.6 million, the initiative aims to promote organic farming, climate-smart agricultural techniques, and empower smallholders to meet sustainability standards.

“We are targeting smallholders to help them access larger markets,” Mimbar said, referencing the third “D” – Dough – which represents the financial resources needed to support these initiatives.

Collaborations for a future-ready food system​

The panel discussion concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Farmfresh Industries and World Food Chain Group, exemplifying the final “D” – Deals – focused on forging strategic partnerships to drive change.

This collaboration is an effort to address food security concerns and support local agricultural development in Indonesia.

The partnership aims to support the Indonesia Free School Meal Program, which provides nutritious meals to millions of Indonesian students.

The partnership, according to World Food Chain’s Chairman Jeremy Nathaniel Goh Kong Wei, “will serve as a catalyst for a new wave of food logistics and agricultural innovations across the region.”

Reflecting on the summit’s theme of sustainability and innovation, Dr Puspo Edi Giriwono from SEAFAST underscored the importance of scientific research in developing functional foods to address the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“Clinical trials on ingredients like dietary fibre, basic raw ingredients like sweeteners, as well as prebiotics and probiotics, are crucial in tackling malnutrition and hunger,” ​said Dr Giriwono.

Food is the most basic need​

The Indonesia-World Food Summit 2024 highlighted the need for regional collaboration, public-private partnerships, and sustainable innovation.

By addressing challenges from climate change to market volatility, and leveraging cooperation across borders, South East Asia is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and future-ready food system.

Despite the rise of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, Dr Latif believes that one essential need will always remain at the forefront of global discussions – food.

“We may have entered the age of AI, but we will always return to the basic need for food,” said Dr Latif.