In 2023, KFI provides its views on large-scale food fortification, which can be one of the strategies to improve the quality of human resources amid the threat of extreme climate change. This Policy Brief discusses the global challenges, including Indonesia, will face in the context of food availability and access in the future. Based on the Megatrend 2045 analysis, there are ten main factors, such as demographic changes, urbanization and climate change, that have the potential to significantly affect the food system.
Climate change is one of the most widespread and serious threats it poses through its effects on soil fertility, water availability, and the quality and quantity of crop yields, as well as increasing the risk of infectious diseases. Research shows that the impact of these changes will not only reduce food production, but also reduce the nutritional quality of food available, especially for low-income groups. This has the potential to exacerbate existing micronutrient deficiency problems.
In addition, increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations have the potential to reduce the nutrient content of many crops, affecting the overall quality of people's diets. This paper illustrates in depth how various factors can interact and create complex challenges for food systems, as well as the urgency to take appropriate action to address these issues.
KFI said that to face the challenges of extreme climate, improving the quality of community nutrition can be done through fortification, biofortification, supplementation, and food diversification. In supporting the development of wide-scale fortification, the LSFF coordination forum plays a crucial role. Through a cross-sectoral approach, the planning and implementation of food fortification programs can be more integrated and get broad support.
Currently, the National Food Fortification Forum has been established based on the Decree of the Minister of National Development Planning Number KEP.19/M.PPN/HK/03/2024 on the Determination of Members of the National Food Fortification Coordination Forum. The forum is headed by Bappenas, and consists of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Trade, KKP, BSN, Bapanas, and BPOM. The forum actively discusses issues related to fortification such as regulatory changes and raw material scarcity.