Building food self-sufficiency with 'three-network' collaboration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A nation's resilience is measured not only by its economic growth but also by its ability to ensure that every citizen has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

Food self-sufficiency, therefore, is not merely about increasing rice production or boosting other agricultural outputs. It is also about how a country builds a system capable of sustaining the well-being of its people over the long term.

This message was underscored during the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen Week (PENAS XVII) 2026, held recently at the David-Toni Sports Complex in Gorontalo District.

Opened by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the national gathering served as a key forum bringing together farmers, fishermen, agricultural extension workers, agribusiness actors, and food sector stakeholders from across Indonesia.

More importantly, PENAS provided a platform to exchange experiences, ideas, innovations, and aspirations to strengthen the nation's food future.

On the occasion, President Director of State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Ahmad Rizal, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to supporting the realization of sustainable food self-sufficiency.

The commitment is reflected not only through food stock management and distribution at the downstream level, but also in strengthening Bulog's upstream operations.

This includes procuring crops directly from farmers in accordance with prevailing government regulations.

While the strategy provides price certainty for farmers and secures national food supplies, achieving sustainable food self-sufficiency requires more than the efforts of a single institution or government program.

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Food security challenges are becoming increasingly complex due to climate change, global economic uncertainty, shifting consumption patterns, and an aging farming population that requires regeneration.

Therefore, the approach must become more comprehensive, integrated, and involve all stakeholders.

Three key networks

One idea that deserves greater attention is the need to strengthen three key networks in food development: knowledge networks, institutional networks, and financial networks.

Knowledge networks provide the foundation for transformation because meaningful change begins with open and collaborative thinking. Previously, food policies have often been implemented in a fragmented manner, hindering the development of a holistic and integrated food ecosystem.

In reality, production cannot be separated from distribution; distribution is closely linked to markets; markets depend on financing; and all of these require research, technology, and capable human resources.

The ability to identify patterns, connect diverse pieces of information, and build cross-sectoral understanding will lead to more adaptive and effective policies.

In practice, such an approach can be fostered through open discussions, the use of data from multiple sources, research activities, and systems mapping that illustrates how different issues are interconnected.

In the context of food self-sufficiency, knowledge networks involve building a system that connects farmers, processors, distributors, consumers, researchers, and government institutions.

Through integrated farming systems, strong local markets, sustainable research programs, and government policies that prioritize the food sector, production becomes more than an output target. It becomes a pathway to improving public welfare.

While knowledge networks generate ideas, institutional networks serve as the engine that drives the entire system.

No single institution can address food challenges on its own. The central and regional governments, farmer organizations, the food industry, universities, research institutions, NGOs, private companies, and state-owned enterprises all need to move in harmony.

Institutional networks should not be limited to formal cooperation through the signing of memoranda of understanding.

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More importantly, they require genuine collaboration through the sharing of information, resources, experience, and innovation.

When each institution understands its role while pursuing shared objectives, efficiency improves, service quality increases, and challenges can be addressed collectively.

As a result, farmers receive better support, research findings are implemented more quickly, food distribution becomes more efficient, and the public benefits from a more stable food supply.

At the same time, farmers have greater opportunities to improve their welfare because they become key actors within the system.

Synergy and collaboration

The third pillar is a strong financial network. Many agricultural programs are well designed but face obstacles when it comes to financing.

The challenge lies in developing financing mechanisms that are simple, accessible, and tailored to farmers' needs.

Expanding farmers' access to banking services should be accompanied by financing schemes that are straightforward and responsive to their actual conditions.

With broader access to capital, farmers will have greater opportunities to improve productivity, adopt new technologies, and expand their businesses sustainably.

This is where the "pentahelix" concept becomes relevant. The government, businesses, academia, communities, and the media each have a role to play in developing strong and inclusive financial networks.

Such synergy will establish a system that not only boosts food production but also accelerates improvements in the welfare of farmers as the primary actors in national development.

Furthermore, food self-sufficiency is not merely about achieving production targets or reducing import dependence on import. It is also about fostering national confidence that the country can meet its basic food needs through its own capabilities.

The integration of knowledge, institutional, and financial networks highlights the fact that food sector development requires comprehensive collaboration rather than fragmented efforts.

The question is no longer whether sustainable food self-sufficiency is possible, but whether all of us are prepared to embrace collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement to build a more resilient and prosperous food future for Indonesia.

*) The writer is a member of the Expert Council of the National Leadership Council of the Indonesian Farmers Union (DPN HKTI).

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Translator: Entang Sastraatmadja*)

Editor: Bayu Prasetyo

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