Prof Clara M Koesharto Review the Potential and Advantages of Clari-Moringa’s Innovation for Stunting Prevention
The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) is holding a webinar Be An Expert: Handling Stunting in order to interpret the XXX National Family Day and National Children's Day in 2023. This national seminar discusses the topic of 'Increasing Family Resilience and Protection to Build Quality Indonesian Humans'.
This webinar was opened by Prof Rizal Damanik, Deputy for Training, Research and Development of the BKKBN who is also a lecturer at IPB University from the Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema). Prof Rizal revealed that stunting is a national priority program, in which the government has mandated the BKKBN as the coordinator for accelerating the reduction of stunting.
"The acceleration of stunting reduction must be carried out by various parties such as ministries, institutions or organizations with the same commitment. Higher education as a center for the development of knowledge must certainly have a strategic role," he said.
He continued, BKKBN has made various efforts, including by collecting data on families at risk of stunting throughout Indonesia. Prof Rizal hopes that after this webinar there will be a follow-up plan for the utilization of the results of these activities.
Prof Clara M Koesharto, a nutrition expert at IPB University, was one of the speakers at the seminar. She reviewed the results of his research in the form of the Clari-Moringa innovation as an effort to prevent stunting.
Clarias and Moringa's research has resulted in a variety of products, not only flour but also derivative products in the form of Clarimoringa Biscuits. This is a high protein product made from catfish flour enriched with moringa flour as a source of vegetable protein. These biscuits have great potential as additional food to overcome nutritional problems, especially the incidence of underweight and stunting.
"Higher education has participated with a touch of technology, namely innovations originating from local products to become potential products, thereby increasing the nutritional and health status in Indonesia, one of which is by creating innovative research products," said Prof Clara.
She explained that Clari-Moringa's innovation came from Clarias gariepinus or catfish. According to him, this product is high in protein, inexpensive and popular among the public
"Through this innovation, we found the right technology to process fresh farmed fish, namely clarias gariepinus, into fish meal and its derivative products. We have also collaborated with several universities to be able to do this," she said.
Prof Clara continued, in developing these products there are several things that need to be emphasized such as the characteristics of food that have the potential to be developed with appropriate and environmentally friendly technology. This consists of product affordability that is easy for consumers to purchase, popularity, continuity and environmental friendliness.
"Consumption of animal protein is important for children aged 6-24 months who are getting complementary foods (MPASI). "Based on balanced nutrition guidelines, side dishes include vegetable and animal protein, this combination is very good because animal protein contains complete essential amino acids which are good for children's growth," she explained. (Lp/Rz) (IAAS/Hap)
