Support the MBG Program, IPB Academicians Emphasize Food Security and Supervision

The IPB Academic Forum stated a statement of position regarding the MBG program at the IPB Convention Center, Bogor City, Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (VOI)

BOGOR - The IPB Academic Forum expressed its support for the Indonesian People's Nutrition Improvement Program through the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program which is being carried out by the government. However, this support is accompanied by a number of notes for improvement so that the implementation of the program runs effectively, accurately, and sustainably.

Spokesperson for the IPB Academic Forum, Prof. Muhammad Firdaus, said the program has strategic goals in improving the quality of human resources and the welfare of the Indonesian people.

"The IPB Academic Forum supports the Targeted Improvement of the Nutrition of the Indonesian People," said Prof. Muhammad Firdaus in his statement at the ICC Bogor City, Wednesday, May 6.

According to him, the Free Nutritious Meal Program is a positive step by the government in improving the nutritional status of schoolchildren ranging from PAUD, TK, SD, SMP, SMA to pesantren. The program is also considered important to support the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers.

The IPB Academic Forum also encourages that the community nutrition improvement program be made a long-term cross-government policy. This is considered important so that efforts to improve the quality of health, intelligence, work productivity, and national competitiveness can take place consistently.

Although fully supporting the purpose of the program, the IPB Academic Forum reminded that the implementation of mass nutritious meals has risks that need to be anticipated well.

Prof. Firdaus emphasized that the government needs to ensure that all parties involved in the program have adequate knowledge related to nutrition and food safety.

"The implementation of nutritional standards and menus must go hand in hand with ensuring food safety from procurement, storage, processing to distribution," he said.

In addition, the IPB Academic Forum assessed that the involvement of schools and community communities must be strengthened in the implementation of the program. Both are considered to have an important role in the process of supervision, evaluation, as well as nutrition education so that the program runs efficiently and effectively.

The IPB Academic Forum also asked the government to carry out a nutritious meal program with a measurable capacity and supported by a sustainable monitoring and evaluation system.

"Monitoring and evaluation need to be carried out systematically and sustainably, not only related to malnutrition but also the potential for excess nutrition in target groups," said Prof. Firdaus.

Meanwhile, member of the IPB Academic Forum, Prof. Illah Sailah, added that the most crucial aspect in the implementation of the MBG Program lies in the supervision of the process in the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG). According to him, strict supervision is needed to ensure the quality of food, hygiene, and distribution runs according to the established standards.

"The most crucial thing in the implementation of MBG is the supervision of the process at the SPPG. All stages must be ensured to run according to standards so that food quality and safety are maintained," said Prof. Illah Sailah.

He assessed that strengthening supervision at the implementation level would be the key to the success of the program, as well as preventing the emergence of issues that could reduce the effectiveness of the goal of improving community nutrition.

The IPB Academic Forum emphasized that the support and a number of notes were a form of moral and intellectual responsibility in monitoring public policies so that they remain in the interests of the people's welfare, budget efficiency, and the sustainability of national development.