Food Sovereignty Advocates for Human Right to Food in Indonesia
The core essence of food sovereignty is upholding the right of every person, community, and nation to produce, distribute, and fulfill food needs sovereignly. In Indonesia, Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food stipulates that food is a fundamental human right, and the state is obligated to ensure its availability, affordability, and sufficient, safe, quality, and nutritionally balanced consumption. Despite this legal framework, the right to food is not yet equitably realized across Indonesia. Data from the Health Ministry in 2019 revealed significant nutritional challenges, with 27.6% of children under five experiencing stunting, and 3.9% of toddlers suffering from severe malnutrition and 13.8% from undernutrition. These statistics indicate failures in current food systems, from production to consumption, and a reliance on conventional food security frameworks that prioritize trade liberalization over people's rights.
