The Indonesian Agricultural Economics Association (PERHEPI) held an international conference to discuss future challenges in the field of agricultural. The International Conference which was attended by 100 offline participants was held at Harris Hotel, Friday (27/5/2022).
“UB fully supports this event. I believe that in the industrial era, the role of food cannot be replaced by other commodities. I hope that through this forum I can increase knowledge and provide input to the government.
In developing the food system and agriculture in Indonesia,” said UB Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Nuhfil Hanani, AR., M.S.
Prof. Nuhfil added that it will be a challenge for consumers to choose and look for not only a full stomach but also nutrition.
“As well as functional food to lower cholesterol and diabetes,” he said.

The Coordinator of Experts at the Ministry of Trade, Bayu Krisnamurthi, said that the current Food Self-Sufficiency System is no longer relevant to be implemented. People do not only need rice to meet their nutritional needs.
“There are many things that people need to fulfill their body’s nutrition. Not only rice, but also side dishes and cassava,” he said
Bayu added, in the food system, the key is nutrition or nutrients that enter the human body.
Universitas Brawijaya (UB) has a mandate from the Indonesian Agricultural Economics Association (PERHEPI) to hold the 2022 ISAE International Conference (Perhepi).
This event was opened by the General Chairperson of PERHEPI, Prof. Bustanul Arifin. In his speech, Bustanul Arifin appreciates and thanks UB for being fully involved from the beginning to the implementation.
“We convey our highest appreciation to Professor Nuhfil Hanani, The Rector of Universitas Brawijaya and his team who have been fully involved in this ISAE International Conference, from the initial planning stage to today’s implementation stage,” said Bustanul, an Unila lecturer.
The conference took the theme “Transforming Global Food System: Strengthening Agricultural Sector” to bring together complex issues such as the transformation of the global food system, especially on how to strengthen the agricultural sector, increase the allocation of support and resources for farmer smallholders, and develop more inclusive and stronger sustainable multi-stakeholder partnerships..
According to Bustanul, the global food system is in very serious challenge, after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic which caused a global economic recession. Recent tensions between Russia and Ukraine and other global geopolitical issues have increased global inflation. Indonesia’s inflation rate in 2022 is expected to reach more than 5 percent, a significant increase from 2.6 percent in 2021.
Indonesia currently adheres to and develops a comprehensive sustainable food system, covering activities of production systems, processing, distribution, trade, and food consumption systems. The outcome of the food system is an increase in food security which includes food availability, food access and food utilization. In the vision of sustainability, the food system also brings results in the form of social welfare which includes employment, income levels, human capital, social capital, political capital and environmental health which includes the flow of ecosystem stocks, ecosystem services, access to natural capital and others.
In the agri-food sector, Indonesia has committed to implementing Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems (SRFS).
SRFS is an important foundation for improving food and nutrition security to be able to contribute to a healthy and balanced diet, poverty alleviation, sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The conference invited speakers including: Professor Matin Qaim (President of the International Association of Agricultural Economics-IAAE), Professor Kei Kajisa (President of the Asian-ASAE Agricultural Economic Society), Professor Ryohei Kada (Institute for Human and Natural Research), Professor Atsushi Yoshimoto (Institute for Mathematics Statistics), Professor Hermanto Siregar (Rector of Perbanas Institute), and Professor Bayu Krisnamurthi (IPB University). Meanwhile, 83 presenters will appear to deliver materials and posters. (Humas UB/ Trans. Iir)