Each country faces unique food-related challenges. For instance, Singapore lacks land to produce its food, leading to an annual increase in rice imports. During the pandemic, Singapore experienced serious food issues due to disrupted international trade.
On the other hand, Indonesia is one of the world’s top four rice producers, thanks to its ample agricultural land. However, given the increasing population, this agricultural potential does not necessarily meet the national food demand.
Over the past decade, welfare and food security have become global issues. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2019, 690 million people worldwide suffered from hunger. Addressing food security issues requires cooperation and collaboration across sectors to ensure sustainable food availability.
These points were discussed at the press conference for the 2024 Summer Course on Interprofessional Healthcare, titled “Nourishing Futures: Exploring the Intersection of Food Security and Health Status.”
This course, initiated by the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), is held in collaboration with the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM), Faculty of Pharmacy (Pharmacy UGM), Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM), and Faculty of Animal Science (Animal Science UGM).
The 2024 Summer Course will occur from Jun. 19 to 28, 2024. It will feature participants from various countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Turkey, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Dr. Tony Arjuna, the 2024 Summer Course Committee Chair, highlighted Indonesia’s dependency on rice consumption and the need to shift this cultural habit.
“We are the third-largest rice producer in the world, yet we still import rice. This habit stems from our culture, even though we produce many rice substitutes. We also face a complex stunting problem, which is not just about nutrition but also the economy,” he explained.
He provided an example of fishermen’s children who suffer from stunting despite their families’ primary income coming from fish. This is due to the fishermen’s poor economic conditions.
“The fish they catch must be sold entirely to meet basic needs such as food, electricity, water, and education,” he said.
Malnutrition is often understood as a deficiency in nutrients, but excess of certain nutrients is also classified as malnutrition. Dr. Arjuna pointed out that 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from anemia, with the majority being women and children. Pregnant women with anemia are likely to give birth to children at high risk of stunting, creating a vicious cycle.
The 2024 Summer Course aims to give international participants a deeper understanding of food issues, including malnutrition, food security, and global food welfare.
“The students will be invited to observe firsthand how community food self-sufficiency is achieved. As an academic institution, we have a significant responsibility to help solve national food issues,” explained Professor Gunadi, Head of the Internationalization Team at FK-KMK UGM.
Through in-depth learning, participants will not only engage in theoretical discussions on food issues but also visit the Samberembe Tourist Village and Mina Padi Village in Pakem, Sleman, and the UGM Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT UGM) in Berbah, Sleman.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson