Why has Indonesiaʼs Food System Performance Slowed Down in Recent Years? A Strategic Note for Food Policy Optimization

ABSTRACT SDG 2 ‘Zero Hunger’ has been a global commitment to ensure sufficient healthy food for all. Accounting for more than 40% of south‐east Asiaʼs population, several millions of Indonesians still face the risk of food insecurity despite of large improvements achieved. This article compares the progress made during the past decade to other ASEAN countries. It also explores the patterns and the changes of food security across Indonesiaʼs vast territory. We identify a gap in food security improvements at national level which has constantly been widening since 2019 and experienced a growth shortfall relative to the historical trend. We find a pronounced West‐East gradient in food security patterns across Indonesiaʼs 38 provinces which has been fairly stable since 2019. However, convergence of food security levels has barely taken place. Indonesiaʼs policies should ensure increased convergence of food security across its provinces and bring the country back to its stable pre‐Covid19 food security improvement trajectory.