Ethical governance of food systems: developing a halal food security index (HFSI) based on Islamic moral principles in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to reconceptualize food security as an ethically grounded governance system by developing a halal food security index (HFSI) based on the Islamic principles of halal (permissible) and ṭayyib (wholesome, safe and beneficial). It addresses limitations in conventional, largely value-neutral frameworks that overlook Sharia-compliant production, financing and institutional arrangements. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was applied using secondary data from 34 Indonesian provinces. The HFSI was constructed through normalization, winsorization and multidimensional aggregation. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to assess indicator validity, internal consistency and dimensional robustness, ensuring alignment between the halal–ṭayyib framework and the empirical structure. Findings The HFSI reveals substantial spatial disparities. Provinces in Java consistently record higher scores, while eastern regions lag due to weaker institutional capacity, Islamic financial systems and halal assurance mechanisms. No province reaches the “sufficient” threshold; most remain within the minimum or insufficient categories. Institutional and distributive mechanisms – particularly Sharia-compliant financing and Zakat, Infaq, and Sadaqah (ZIS) distribution – play a central role in explaining interprovincial variation. Strong performance in sustainability alone does not compensate for weaknesses in affordability and quality. Practical implications The HFSI serves as a diagnostic tool for Sharia-compliant policy design, strengthening the integration of Islamic social finance and improving institutional coordination. It complements existing food security indices by incorporating ethical and distributive dimensions. The index also offers a measurable and policy-relevant instrument with potential application in Muslim-majority countries, including initiatives under the Islamic Organization for Food Security. Originality/value This study proposes a novel, empirically validated composite index that operationalizes Islamic moral principles within food security measurement at the provincial level in Indonesia.