Jakarta, 2 November 2019 – Food security is an issue that must be resolved by the government in the next five years. Food, as a basic need and a human right as written in the 1945 Constitution, contributes to the quality of human resources in Indonesia. For this reason, food availability and supply must be taken into account as well as the benefits and nutritional content of each food.

To answer this need, higher education plays an important role. Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), as one institute with a Food Technology Study Program, contributes to improving awareness on food security in Indonesia through Food Explore 12, raising a theme of “Food Security: Diverse Food Utilization”. The event was held from 30 October to 1 November 2019 at UPH Lippo Village campus and the peak of the event was held on 2 to 3 November 2019 at Lippo Mall Puri, Jakarta.

According to Ir. W. Donald R. Pokatong, M. Sc., Ph.D., Head of UPH Food Technology, the theme is relevant to the World Food Day that falls on 16 October 2019 in the sense that it announces that the world must be detached from hunger by consuming a healthy diet. This can be achieved if food security is guaranteed to be good.

Donald explained, “One aspect of food security is the diversity of food utilization. Therefore, people must know about the rich diversity of local Indonesian ingredients and how to process it. Through the Food Explore exhibition, people can see innovative ideas in food processing, which can be a reference to the people, especially to families, in processing quality food in terms of its benefits and nutritional content.”

The message on food security was carried on by the students of UPH Food Technology through Food Explore 12. Each year, the event exposes local food innovations of students, and this year it raises the potential of local food ingredients in producing various food products that are nutritional, balanced, of good quality, and safe. It is hoped that the students’ innovations can achieve local food industrialization.

Dimas, a 2016 UPH Food Technology student and the Head Committee of Food Explore 2019, said, “This year is different from previous years because Food Explore is held outside of campus in order to reach out to the public. The people must know and understand the issues of food security. Therefore, we chose Lippo Mall Puri at West Jakarta, which is a strategic place and is crowded with visitors. The event was held on 2 and 3 November 2019 at the Under Ground (UG) Atrium 3.”

Food Innovation 2019, at Lippo Mall Puri, exhibits 29 food innovations that the visitors can taste. The public will also receive an explanation from the innovating students on the processing method and the food’s benefits.

Dimas added, “One of the innovations at the Food Innovation Exhibition is the trending bubble milk tea, which is made from carrot flour for the bubble and corn milk and jasmine leaf for the milk tea. We also innovate traditional snacks such as kuping gajah which is made from pandan and corn.”

In addition to the Food Innovation Exhibition, the Food Explore 12 also held various competitions for high school students, such as a speech competition and an innovation competition with sixteen groups from ten high schools all over Jabodetabek. There was also the National Foodpreneur Competition for university students with nine teams from five universities. The National Seminar was also held to increase knowledge on food security by presenting experts in the food industry.