We partner with governments, businesses, civil society groups and others to change the way the world produces and uses food and energy and designs its cities. Our 100+ projects span from advising mayors on how to reduce traffic fatalities to working with restaurant chains to cut food waste to powering rural healthcare facilities with clean energy. We mobilize global and regional initiatives that spur international climate action, advance sustainable ocean management, halt tropical deforestation, restore degraded landscapes and more.

Food Security

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Suboptimal Land

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TOPIC

In today’s world with 7.6 billion people, one-fourth of the population do not have regular access to healthy food and almost 1 billion people live in hunger. Meanwhile, over 2.5 billion consume too much, resulting in overweight and obesity. This triple burden of malnutrition challenges our vision to achieve food security which has four main pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability. How can we approach this complex, intertwine issue?

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">In our latest story, we take you to Kuala Enok, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province, where our team explored how rice is cultivated on suboptimal land, specifically acid sulfate soil in dry conditions, which might be one of the keys to pushing innovative farming to reach food security as part of Tay Juhana Foundation’s <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://tayjuhanafoundation.org/updates/foster-integrated-agriculture-system-ias-for-diversification-and-resilience-means-on-suboptimal-land"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Food Security and Sustainability Center (FOSTER)</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">.  <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Over generations, coconut farming has been the backbone of the community in the Regency, driven by the region’s vast coastal peatlands and tidal lowlands, where the plant thrives. However, climate change and land degradation have <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://tayjuhanafoundation.org/updates/resilient-roots-how-indragiri-hilirs-coconut-peatland-farmers-adapt-to-change"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">affected coconut yields</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> and prices, creating economic vulnerabilities for communities whose livelihoods are closely tied to this commodity; therefore, an alternative is necessary. <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The community and team found that the land in the region is highly acidic and, when exposed to oxygen, becomes even more acidic, leaving both waterlogged and non-waterlogged areas nutrient-poor. At the same time, despite being a tidal swampland, the soil is relatively dry. This raised a specific question:<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Can rice be grown in Kuala Enok under these conditions? If so, which rice varieties and soil treatments would support its growth?<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As an initial step, the team went to Tanah Merah Village as part of the research pilot site, where they prepared the land by clearing weeds and other plants using both chemical and manual methods, then ploughed, applied different amounts of dolomite to each plot at least 14 days before the rice was planted. <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">In this trial, we installed sprinkler irrigation to provide controlled water supply under the experimental conditions.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">On this occasion, the study tested three rice varieties: <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Inpago 13 Fortiz, Ciherang, and Inpari 39 Tadah Hujan, <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">and<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">planted them in late February this year <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">using the Tabela (<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">tanam benih langsung<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">–direct seeding) method with the traditional Tugal technique, in which rice seeds are sown directly into the field by hand and stick.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> This was the first time the method was applied on site, requiring the field team to adapt to a new planting approach. These varieties were selected based on characteristics indicating their potential to grow under <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://repository.unimal.ac.id/5659/"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">dry</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> conditions. Each variety was tested with four dolomite doses. Each variety-dolomite combination was replicated three times, for a total of 36 experimental subplots.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/1e344b89-2b7a-413b-99d8-8a589df28f04.jpg" title="Left: Direct seeding (tanam benih langsung) method during the planting stage; Right: Sorting harvested rice grains. Photo Credit: Tay Juhana Foundation/Puan Maharani br Gultom " width="8192" height="2318"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Three Varieties and Four Dolomite Treatments Later<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">After 111 days of cultivation, the harvest yielded approximately 2.8–4.13 tonnes per hectare across all plots, with no statistically significant differences among them. On average, Inpari 39 with the highest dolomite application achieved the highest potential and actual productivity, while Inpago 13 grew taller, and both Ciherang and Inpari 39 produced more shoots and grains. Due to uneven maturity rates and unexpected field challenges beyond soil conditions, harvesting could not be completed all at once; however, these initial findings offer valuable insights into how different varieties and soil treatments respond under pilot conditions. <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lastly, this pilot project provided an initial snapshot of how different rice varieties and dolomite treatments responded under dry acid sulfate soil conditions in Kuala Enok, and highlighted what needs better preparation for future research—from experimental design and field management to challenges such as local birds feeding on rice grains in some plots, which we tried to address by covering the plots with nets.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/08c218b0-bec8-41d7-a17b-103ba46d08f0.jpg" alt="Installing protective netting over the field to shield ripening rice grains from birds. Photo Credit: Tay Juhana Foundation/Puan Maharani br Gultom" width="4240" height="2400"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">At Tay Juhana Foundation, we are committed to advancing food security on suboptimal lands through sustainable agriculture. Follow more updates on our <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://tayjuhanafoundation.org/updates/foster-integrated-agriculture-system-ias-for-diversification-and-resilience-means-on-suboptimal-land"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">integrated agriculture system</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> projects through our <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Instagram</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> and <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">LinkedIn</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, and learn more about it through our <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/742/01KNRMYFXM9HNA1GGBB37HBF5T.pdf"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">TJF Research Brief</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">.

Pushing Food Security Through Sustainable Suboptimal Land Cultivation in Kuala Enok

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tay Juhana Foundation (TJF)’s continues its commitment in ensuring food security for humanity and transforming suboptimal land into a sustainable source of food for all through the<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 2026 Youth Essay Writing Competition<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">This year’s theme, <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Rooted in Tradition, Innovating for the Future: Building an Inclusive and Resilient Indonesian Food System,”<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> invites the next generation to explore how local knowledge and ground-level experiences can inspire new ideas for Indonesia’s food future. This aligns with the FAO’s World Food Day theme, <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/en"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Participants can explore the theme through one of these three subthemes: <ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Innovation rooted in local knowledge and tradition; </li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The role of women in the food system; </li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sustainable agriculture and climate resilience on suboptimal lands.</li></ul><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Find out how you can be part of this! Read the guidebook here: <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="http://bit.ly/GuidebookEssayTJF2026"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">bit.ly/GuidebookEssayTJF2026</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> for the full guidelines and  submit your essay by <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">30 September 2026<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> through <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="http://bit.ly/EssayTJF2026"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">bit.ly/EssayTJF2026</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">.

Tay Juhana Foundation Calls for Future Food Innovations Through the 2026 Youth Essay Competition 

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Along the southern coast of Indragiri Hilir, Riau, on the eastern side of Sumatra, the soil is acid sulfate in clay form, with a naturally low pH that challenges food production, making it a type of suboptimal land for agriculture. Coconut has long been the dominant crop in this region, partly because it is one of the few crops that tolerates these conditions well, and largely because it is the one crop that the community has been cultivating through generations.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Relying mainly on one crop does come with a tradeoff. When food and income depend heavily on a single source, the community becomes more exposed to shocks such as natural soil nutrient degradation or climate-related disruptions. Despite our recognition that coconut farming remains an important basis for livelihood in the region, Tay Juhana Foundation (TJF) believes that food security can be made more resilient with more diverse, accessible food sources for the local community.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) Approach<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Among several approaches to this kind of condition, TJF explores and expands on the Integrated Agriculture System, or IAS,<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170507001718"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170507001718"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">a concept first outlined in agricultural systems research</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. The basic idea is that different farming and fishery enterprises, such as a rice field, a fishpond, livestock, or a home garden, can be connected so that the output of one becomes a useful input for another. Crop residue can become feed, manure can become fertilizer, and water systems can be shared across enterprises. This kind of exchange helps enterprises use resources more efficiently, reduces reliance on costly external inputs, and can make the overall system more resilient to disruption than any single enterprise on its own.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">This is not a new idea. Communities working with comparable land conditions elsewhere have applied similar integrated approaches to avoid relying on a single source of income, and to make better use of limited resources. In Bangladesh&#039;s flood-prone wetland regions, farmers who<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2024.100127"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2024.100127"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">combined crop cultivation, livestock, and fish farming</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> saw improvements in both income and overall livelihood. Closer to home, a<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.32535/ijabim.v10i3.4241"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.32535/ijabim.v10i3.4241"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">case study on land with similarly challenging soil conditions in Minahasa Regency</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> similarly found that integrating cattle with rice and corn farming helped make more productive use of land that conventional agriculture struggled with. For a region like southern Indragiri Hilir, where soil conditions are challenging and livelihoods are concentrated around one crop, this kind of approach offers a way to diversify food sources while making the most of what is already locally available.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">TJF tries to incorporate and explore this approach through the Food Security and Sustainability Center (FOSTER), located in Tanah Merah District, Kuala Enok, Indragiri Hilir, Riau. Under this program’s umbrella, TJF aims to work toward a more sustainable and resilient food system for communities in southern Indragiri Hilir. IAS adaptation in the FOSTER program is shaped around the specific soil, water, and community conditions of Kuala Enok. The program is designed with the hope that what is learned here can also be relevant for the local communities themselves and other regions with similar land characteristics.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/d67eed55-6b42-4c89-9ba8-47e7ebe54a40.png" width="1920" height="2167"><span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">A First Look: Two Projects Underway<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As an initial step, TJF began with two projects under the FOSTER umbrella, both still in an early modelling stage.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The first is a rice cultivation project, trialing different rice varieties and soil treatments on a plot of acid sulfate land in Kuala Enok, to identify combinations that perform well under the region&#039;s acidic, dry soil conditions.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The second is an aquaculture project, exploring fish cultivation in the <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">parit<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, the waterways that run through the area, with a focus on approaches that make use of local resources and that are realistic for the community to maintain.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">For now, these two projects are running separately, each building its own base of knowledge. As both progress, FOSTER hopes to eventually bring rice cultivation and aquaculture together into a more integrated system.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Delve deeper into the integrated vision we have outlined as well as the techniques we’ve discovered for farming in the wetlands of Indragiri Hilir through our<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/742/01KNRMYFXM9HNA1GGBB37HBF5T.pdf"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/742/01KNRMYFXM9HNA1GGBB37HBF5T.pdf"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">TJF Research Brief</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. We will keep you updated on the projects. Don’t forget to follow us on our <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Instagram</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> and <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">LinkedIn</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to stay connected!

FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

Three Storms, One Farm: Wetland Agriculture Under Indonesia's Converging Crises

From Hormuz to Home Gardens: What Women Farmers Teach Us About Food System Resilience

Ramadan is one moment that is deeply anticipated by Muslim communities around the world, including in Indonesia. During this month, food becomes more than a daily necessity. It reflects culture, togetherness, and living traditions that connect communities across generations.As the sun sets, iftar tables across the archipelago tell different stories. In one region, families gather around bowls of kolak; in another, papeda or boiled sweet potatoes are served. Traditional market snacks, seasonal fruits, and local dishes that appear only at certain times of the year fill homes and streets alike. Without us always realizing it, these meals reveal an important truth: food diversity is neither distant nor difficult to achieve. It already lives within Indonesian society, shaped by diverse cultures, landscapes, and local wisdom across regions.Yet behind this abundance lies a question that often goes unnoticed: how resilient is the food system that sustains Indonesia&#039;s everyday meals?This question may feel far removed from the warmth of a full iftar table. But for many communities across Indonesia, it is a matter of long-term food security.A <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/702/01KJC53TZ43TYAQH2K48RAEX6D.pdf">2020 TJF Brief</a> highlighted one stark example. In 2018, Asmat Regency experienced a hunger crisis that led to severe malnutrition and claimed 71 lives. The crisis was closely linked to heavy dependence on a single staple commodity, rice, without alternative carbohydrate sources as a buffer. Although Asmat is not a rice-producing region, reliance on rice had gradually displaced traditional food systems based on sago and tubers. When rice supplies declined and distribution chains faltered, the region faced acute food vulnerability.Asmat is not an isolated case. Many regions in Indonesia depend heavily on long and fragile food distribution chains, particularly areas that do not produce their own staple foods and rely primarily on a single commodity such as rice.This situation is rooted in historical policy choices. During the New Order era in the 1970s, national food self-sufficiency efforts focused heavily on rice production. Large-scale development of rice-growing centers across the country shaped public perception and firmly positioned rice as Indonesia&#039;s primary staple. Consumption patterns shifted accordingly. By 2010, rice dominance had strengthened while many local food sources became increasingly marginalized. Although food diversification initiatives were introduced, including Presidential Instruction No. 20 of 1979, their implementation struggled to balance the much stronger policy emphasis on rice self-sufficiency.<h2>Strengthening Food Security Through Diversification</h2>Recent crises have demonstrated that food security is not defined solely by high production levels. It also depends on the diversity of food sources and the accessibility of food at the local level. Food diversification that prioritizes local production therefore becomes a key strategy for strengthening national food resilience. By reducing dependence on a single commodity, diversification helps lower vulnerability to supply disruptions and external shocks.The <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/702/01KJC53TZ43TYAQH2K48RAEX6D.pdf">2020 TJF Brief</a> identifies two complementary approaches: horizontal and vertical diversification. Horizontal diversification expands the variety of staple crops, for example by increasing the production of cassava and sweet potatoes alongside rice. Vertical diversification focuses on how commodities are processed and utilized. Tubers, for instance, can be developed into chips, flour, or other food products rather than sold solely as raw harvests. Beyond enriching dietary diversity, vertical diversification also creates opportunities for added economic value for farmers and local communities.<h2>How ready is Indonesia to advance these approaches?</h2>Indonesia already holds strong potential. The country has significant opportunities to develop sago, sorghum, cassava, and sweet potatoes as viable alternatives to rice-based carbohydrates. Indonesia is home to approximately 83 percent of the world&#039;s sago forests. At the same time, many suboptimal lands are already being cultivated by local communities as alternative food sources, although these initiatives often lack sufficient policy support.Positive signals are also emerging from society itself. Nationally, demand for fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables continues to increase each year, indicating growing openness toward more diverse and nutritious diets. In Papua, communities are returning to sago consumption, while in East Nusa Tenggara, sorghum is gradually reappearing on dining tables. Local food traditions that were once marginalized are slowly reclaiming their place. What is needed now is systematic government support through policies that recognize and value the diversity of local food systems across regions.Table 1. Opportunities for Alternative Staple Foods to Replace Rice and Wheat<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/19aa88bf-df88-4e9e-9ef5-ef5e5db6c54f.png" alt="Table of alternative staple food opportunities">Source: Adapted from Ministry of Agriculture data (2018)Food diversity has long been part of Indonesian society. The challenge today is not to create it from scratch, but to protect and strengthen what already exists. This requires policies that support local food production, improve equitable access, and recognize that true food resilience cannot depend on a single commodity. Each Ramadan reminds us that diversity is a source of strength. It is time for Indonesia&#039;s food system to reflect that same principle.Tay Juhana Foundation remains committed to supporting the sustainable development of suboptimal lands into productive landscapes as part of broader efforts to strengthen Indonesia&#039;s food resilience. Learn more about our programs and research through our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation">LinkedIn</a> platforms.

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">El Niño is returning in 2026, and Indonesia&#039;s food system has seen this pattern before. This September’s TJF Research Brief explains how El Niño pulls rainfall away from Indonesia, extends the dry season, and delays planting. Looking back at the 1997, 2015, and 2023 episodes, the outcome repeats: lower rice production, rising prices, and a surge in imports.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Rice reserves are stronger this time than in 2023, but resilience has to be built before the peak, not during it. That means getting cropping calendars to villages, running pumps earlier, and watching prices beyond rice. Download the full brief to read more.

TJF Research Brief | The Impact of El Niño on Food Security in Indonesia - Part 1

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">We are pleased to introduce <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Indragiri Hilir Series: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, an illustrated book that brings readers closer to the unique relationship between people, peatlands, and sustainable agriculture in Indragiri Hilir.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Through engaging storytelling and illustrations, this book introduces the role of traditional <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">parit<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> systems, local knowledge, and sustainable water management in supporting both community livelihoods and healthy peatland ecosystems. Designed to make complex environmental topics more accessible, it offers an enjoyable way to learn about the importance of living in harmony with nature.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Download the illustrated book through the file available on this page and discover the story behind sustainable peatland agriculture.

Serial Indragiri Hilir: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Global food systems are facing mounting pressures, from fertilizer supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions to growing concerns over long-term resource security. These challenges highlight the need for agricultural systems that are more resilient and less dependent on increasingly uncertain external inputs.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The June 2026 edition of the TJF Research Brief examines these global dynamics through lessons from wetland agriculture in Indragiri Hilir, Indonesia. By exploring sustainable nutrient management and locally adapted farming practices, the brief highlights how resilience can be built by working with ecological processes rather than relying solely on external resources.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Discover how local experience can offer valuable insights for strengthening food security in an increasingly uncertain world. Download the full TJF Research Brief through the file available on this page.

TJF Research Brief | Wetland Agriculture Amid the Global Phosphorus Crisis: Lessons from Indragiri Hilir

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The June 2026 edition of TJF Commentary examines how a weakening rupiah can expose deeper vulnerabilities within Indonesia&#039;s food system. Beyond rising food prices, the issue highlights broader challenges related to import dependency, agricultural productivity, and long-term food resilience.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Drawing on recent economic developments and food system dynamics, this commentary explores why strengthening domestic production, optimizing suboptimal lands, and supporting climate-resilient local food sources are essential for building a more resilient future.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Download the full TJF Commentary through the file available on this page.

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Pushing Food Security Through Sustainable Suboptimal Land Cultivation in Kuala Enok

Tay Juhana Foundation Calls for Future Food Innovations Through the 2026 Youth Essay Competition

FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

From Hormuz to Home Gardens: What Women Farmers Teach Us About Food System Resilience

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

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Food Security Latest Updates

Pushing Food Security Through Sustainable Suboptimal Land Cultivation in Kuala Enok

Tay Juhana Foundation Calls for Future Food Innovations Through the 2026 Youth Essay Competition

FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

From Hormuz to Home Gardens: What Women Farmers Teach Us About Food System Resilience

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

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About Us

Resources

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Contact Us

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