As an archipelagic nation rich in biodiversity, Indonesia holds immense potential in the diversity of its food sources and culinary cultures. This critical issue was the focus of a discussion titled “Preserving Local Food Stories”, organized by Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari (LTKL) in collaboration with the Humanis and Social Innovation Foundation (Humanis) on June 13, 2025, in Jakarta.

In the session, Ahmad Arif, initiator of Nusantara Food Biodiversity, highlighted that Indonesia is home to at least 72 types of carbohydrate sources, 100 types of legumes, and 450 varieties of fruit. Unfortunately, current consumption trends reflect a significant shift. According to Ahmad, increasing dependence on imported food and the marginalization of local food pose major challenges, driven by historical factors and the impact of climate change on local food productivity.

Despite these challenges, various regional initiatives demonstrate that food sovereignty remains achievable—with the involvement of all stakeholders. Nusantara Food Biodiversity contributes by presenting data and documentation on local food cultures, covering the entire chain from production, harvesting, and processing to storage, presentation, historical background, and related policies.

Meanwhile, IDEP Foundation in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, applies a permaculture approach, an integrated and sustainable system of land and food resource management that leverages local potential to meet community needs.

On the other hand, Ragil Imam Wibowo, Co-founder of Nusa Gastronomy, and Laode Saiful Rahman, finalist of MasterChef Indonesia, emphasized the role of innovation in sustaining the presence of local food. They argue that traditional food must be reintroduced in modern formats to stay relevant to contemporary tastes, while preserving its cultural and ecological values.

This discussion is part of LTKL’s broader strategic effort to build a compelling narrative around the importance of preserving local food as a foundation for national food security. With ID COMM serving as its strategic communications partner, the event successfully captured the attention of numerous national media outlets, including Liputan6.com, Katadata.co.id, GoodNewsFromIndonesia.com, Tirto.id, and Nationalgeographic.grid.id, significantly amplifying the message’s reach and impact.