By: Aulia Sofyan Harahap
The mass development of 19,188 Nutrition Service Providers (SPPG) throughout 2025 marks a crucial phase in strengthening national nutrition services, driven by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
This step not only demonstrates the country’s capacity to build nutrition service infrastructure quickly and measurably, but also demonstrates the government’s commitment to making nutrition provision a foundation for Indonesia’s human resource development.
Throughout 2025, BGN focused its work on establishing the system and operational readiness of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG). From an initial phase of only 190 SPPGs in January 2025, the number of units increased dramatically to 19,188 by the end of the year.
This expansion demonstrates a massive development strategy, while still prioritizing governance and sustainability. This foundation then became the main foundation for the full operation of the SPPG (National Nutritional Nutrition Program) starting January 8, 2026.
With this number of units, MBG services are projected to reach approximately 55 million beneficiaries by early 2026. These targets include students, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, who have long been priority groups for nutrition interventions.
In the following months, service coverage is projected to increase to 82.9 million people, a figure reflecting the scale of the largest nutrition program in the history of Indonesian social policy.
The strategic role of SPPGs is key to this achievement. Each SPPG functions as both a production kitchen and a distribution center for nutritious food that must meet national food safety standards.
The presence of nutrition experts and the mandatory possession of a Hygiene Sanitation Certificate demonstrate that development is not limited to quantity but also directed at service quality. This approach is crucial to ensuring that nutrition interventions are safe, consistent, and have a real impact on public health.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that all achievements throughout 2025 are the result of measurable work in building the foundation for sustainable MBG services. According to him, the operational readiness of the SPPG allows the program to run with broad coverage from the beginning of the fiscal year, while also opening up room for improving service quality in 2026. Dadan also places strengthening nutrition education as an integral part of the long-term strategy to help the public understand the importance of healthy eating patterns.
The impact of the SPPG development is felt not only in the health sector but also in the local economy. Thousands of MBG kitchens employ local workers, from cooks to distribution workers.
Procurement of raw materials from local farmers and businesses helps drive the regional economic chain. In this context, the nutrition program is transforming into an instrument for inclusive recovery and strengthening of the people’s economy.
President Prabowo Subianto positions MBG as part of the government’s grand strategy to improve the quality of life of the community, stimulate economic revival, and expand employment opportunities.
The President openly acknowledged that the program’s implementation still requires acceleration to reach all targets. However, the commitment to working faster and ensuring all children have access to nutritious food is a key message he continues to convey at various opportunities.
In eastern Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto also targets the operation of thousands of SPPGs, including 2,500 units in Papua, by 2026.
This target clearly emphasizes that the equal distribution of free nutrition services remains a national priority regardless of region. MBG is positioned as an instrument to accelerate human resource development, especially in regions that have historically faced the challenge of unequal access to nutrition.
Support for the program also came directly from members of parliament. Netty Prasetiyani Aher, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), considered the distribution of MBG to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers to be a highly strategic form of direct government intervention.
The government’s focus on ensuring nutritional needs during the first 1,000 days of life is seen as crucial for determining the quality of health and future child development.
Netty also highly appreciated the involvement of integrated health posts (Posyandu), health cadres, and the Family Support Team, which has consistently spearheaded distribution efforts in the field.
Nevertheless, serious attention to menu quality remains a key priority for the government. Orienting menus to the nutritional needs of mothers and toddlers, along with efforts to avoid ultra-processed foods, remains a prerequisite for optimal program benefits. In this context, strengthening regulations and policies is crucial.Supervision is an integral part of the sustainable implementation of the National Nutrition Program (MBG).
The mass development of 19,188 SPPGs clearly demonstrates that the government’s free national nutrition services for all Indonesians are no longer merely a matter of discussion.
This initiative has provided concrete evidence that the government continues to systematically ensure access to free nutrition for all. Building on the strong foundation established throughout 2025, 2026 will be a crucial momentum for strengthening the quality, equitable distribution of benefits, and sustainability of national nutrition services. (*)
Public Policy Observer – Bentang Nusantara Public Policy Study Institute