ASIATODAY.ID, ROME — Indonesia has brought a compelling vision for the future of global food security to the international stage, demonstrating that the path toward more resilient agrifood systems lies in combining smart farming technologies with indigenous knowledge and local food diversity.
That vision took center stage at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) during the inaugural FAO Global Conference on Smart Farming, where Indonesia presented its culinary and agricultural showcase, “Flavours of the Archipelago: From Smart Farms to Diverse Foods.”
Jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Rome and the FAO Country Office in Indonesia on July 1, the event highlighted how the world’s largest archipelagic nation is modernizing agriculture while preserving its rich biodiversity, traditional farming practices and culinary heritage.
“Our remarkable diversity is reflected not only in our cultures, but also in our farming traditions and culinary heritage,” said Junimart Girsang, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to the Rome-based United Nations Agencies.
He emphasized that resilient agrifood systems are fundamental to building resilient societies, stressing that Indonesia believes innovation should strengthen local wisdom rather than replace it.
“Tradition and innovation can go hand in hand. By combining technology with indigenous knowledge, we can build stronger and more sustainable food systems capable of addressing future challenges,” Ambassador Girsang said.
Home to nearly 290 million people, Indonesia continues to accelerate the adoption of smart farming technologies to improve productivity while protecting biodiversity, empowering farmers and strengthening long-term food security.
Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division and convener of the conference, said countries around the world are confronting increasingly complex agrifood challenges, including climate change, land and water degradation, rising production costs and labor shortages.
“Smart farming offers practical solutions through better data, precision technologies, automation and improved decision-making,” Yasmi said.
He added that successful agricultural transformation requires a balanced combination of science, innovation and local knowledge adapted to each country’s ecological and socio-economic conditions.
From Papua’s Sago to Smart Agriculture
The conference highlighted successful initiatives jointly implemented by Indonesia and FAO, including customary sago communities in Papua, Smart Fisheries Villages in West Java, greenhouse-based young agripreneurs cultivating chili in Sumatra, and precision agriculture projects supporting banana farmers in East Java.
To provide an authentic experience, the sago served during the event was sourced directly from Papua, showcasing one of Indonesia’s most important indigenous and climate-resilient food resources.
Delegates sampled Papeda with Yellow Tuna Soup, Spicy Indonesian Sago Fried Noodles, and Eurimoo, a traditional dessert made from sago and East Java’s renowned Pisang Mas Kirana (Lady Finger Banana).
The dishes received enthusiastic praise from participants from across the world, reinforcing Indonesia’s ambition to promote sago as a sustainable food with global potential.
According to Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, the event reflected the long-standing partnership between FAO and Indonesia in advancing sustainable agriculture through the organization’s Four Betters agenda: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.
Among the initiatives showcased were improved sago processing technologies in Papua that reduced production time from several days to around five hours, Smart Fisheries Villages supporting Indonesia’s Blue Economy, the Cool Agripreneur program encouraging youth participation in agriculture, and the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative introducing IoT-based precision farming for banana growers in East Java.
As countries search for practical solutions to strengthen food security amid climate uncertainty, Indonesia’s presentation in Rome underscored that the future of agriculture will be shaped not only by technology, but also by biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and sustainable local food systems.
More than a culinary showcase, Indonesia presented a scalable vision for building resilient agrifood systems in a rapidly changing world. (Midwan)
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