By: Ratna Soemirat
The government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has reaffirmed its commitment to improving public health through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.
This program goes beyond providing meals for schoolchildren and vulnerable groups, but also serves as a crucial foundation for building a healthy and competitive generation. In its first year, this initiative has proven to have a significant impact on improving public nutrition, creating jobs, and strengthening local economies across Indonesia.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) recorded that as of October 20, 2025, this program had reached 36,773,520 beneficiaries, including children from preschool age, elementary school through high school students, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. This figure demonstrates the government’s significant commitment to providing equitable access to nutrition throughout the country. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, explained that this success is inseparable from cross-sectoral collaboration between the central and regional governments. He considered this achievement concrete evidence that ensuring nutritional fulfillment is no longer solely the responsibility of one agency, but rather a collaborative effort involving many parties to build a strong national health foundation.
To date, more than 12,500 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) are operating in various regions. SPPGs are a crucial element in the implementation of this program, functioning as community kitchens that process and distribute nutritious food in accordance with food safety standards.
Dadan emphasized that the presence of thousands of active SPPGs reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that every region, including the 3T (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost) regions, receives equal nutrition services. He added that the program’s fundamental principle is that no citizen is left behind when it comes to fulfilling their nutritional needs, as public health is the primary foundation for the nation’s progress.
Since its inception on January 6, 2025, the Free Nutritional Meal Program has had a multi-faceted impact across various sectors. In addition to bringing positive changes to schoolchildren’s eating habits, the program has also created new job opportunities at the local level. Thousands of workers are now directly involved in community kitchens, from cooks and distribution staff to administrative staff and even cleaners.
Dadan explained that the increased economic activity around the program’s implementation sites demonstrates that MBG is not only about nutrition but also part of an inclusive economic development strategy that directly involves the community.
In addition to creating jobs, the program has also created a new entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many MSMEs and local businesses are now part of the MBG supply chain, providing food ingredients, cooking spices, and packaging. This has created new economic activity in various regions, as businesses previously uninvolved in the food sector are now contributing to support the national program.
Derivative industries, such as manufacturers of cutlery, kitchen equipment, and rapid food safety tests, have also grown rapidly in line with the increasing demand for the program. According to Dadan, the sustainability of this supporting industrial ecosystem is a crucial foundation for the future sustainability of the MBG program, as it can strengthen national independence in the food sector.
The Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of the National Food Security Agency (BGN), Khairul Hidayati, also highlighted the importance of regulatory aspects, guidance, and public communication in supporting the success of this program. She explained that all MBG activities are carried out in accordance with clear, transparent, and accountable regulations. BGN actively provides guidance to SPPG managers to ensure that food processing and distribution processes comply with national food safety standards. In addition to ensuring technical quality, BGN also prioritizes transparency and community involvement.
Khairul emphasized that BGN strives to maintain public information transparency by providing an easily accessible complaint channel and regularly disseminating information. The goal is to ensure the public understands the program’s objectives, has access to implementation data, and can participate in monitoring activities in the field. BGN believes that public collaboration is key to the success of the MBG program. Public participation in the form of oversight and support is considered to strengthen the program’s legitimacy and ensure its benefits are targeted.
Through a collaborative approach involving the central and regional governments, businesses, and the community, the Free Nutritious Meals program has become a new facet of Indonesian social policy, oriented towards tangible results. This program marks a shift in theA paradigm shift in the government’s approach to public health issues, from a reactive to a preventative approach. By ensuring good nutrition from an early age, the government is preparing a healthier, more productive, and globally competitive future generation.
The achievements and commitment demonstrated by the government in implementing the MBG program offer great hope for the future of national health. Equitable access to nutritious food, the creation of new jobs, and the growth of the local economy are evidence that this policy has multi-faceted effects with broad benefits. More than just a populist policy, the MBG is a concrete manifestation of the spirit of mutual cooperation and social justice that underpin national development.
 
Social Issues Researcher