Center of Excellence Becomes IPB University’s Strategy to Strengthen Governance of the National Nutrition Fulfillment Program

IPB University has been entrusted with a strategic mandate as the implementing institution for the National Nutrition Fulfillment Center of Excellence (CoE PGN) to strengthen the nutrition fulfillment system through research, innovation, and institutional capacity building.

This role is the result of collaboration with the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Ministry of PPN/Bappenas), the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), as a follow up to a joint commitment made in February 2025.

Within the CoE structure, IPB University serves as the implementing institution through the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition, Health, and Halal (LRI PGKH). Meanwhile, the CoE steering committee consists of representatives from the four main institutions. In carrying out this role, IPB University formed a multidisciplinary team involving experts in nutrition, food technology, health, halal studies, economics and socio culture, as well as food innovation centers.

The Chairperson of LRI PGKH IPB University, Prof Erika B Laconi, stated that the main focus of the CoE includes developing a research-based knowledge center to support the national nutrition fulfillment program, ranging from capacity building, integrated systems approaches, research and innovation, to knowledge management.

When met at the Halal Business Incubator Building, Taman Kencana Campus, Bogor, some time ago, Prof Erika emphasized that the CoE is not directly involved in the operational management of MBG kitchens (SPPG), but instead focuses on strengthening systems, education, research, and human resource capacity development. The approach also targets not only schoolchildren, but also other groups such as pregnant women, adolescents, and the elderly.

Throughout 2025, IPB University has trained 419 facilitators through the Training of Trainers (ToT) program in various regions across Indonesia. The facilitators came from multiple sectors, including ministries, regional agencies, and professional organizations in the field of nutrition.

The program also promotes strengthening the food ecosystem from upstream to downstream, covering raw material provision, processing, and the distribution of nutritious food. In addition, the CoE is developing research-based learning modules that will later be accessible to the public through digital platforms.

Several recommendation modules have been produced, including:

• Recommendations for the Implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program
• Recommendations for Governance and Management of the Free Nutritious Meal Program
• Recommendations for Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for the Free Nutritious Meal Program
• Recommendations for Food Safety Assurance Systems and Waste Management for the Free Nutritious Meal Program
• Recommendations for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Free Nutritious Meal Program
• Guidelines for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program in Basic Education Units
• Nutrition and Food Standards for the Free Nutritious Meal Program

Prof Erika explained that the national CoE is also strengthened through a network of regional CoEs that have been established at Cenderawasih University, and will soon be officially launched at Nusa Cendana University and Brawijaya University. In the future, this network will be expanded to western Indonesia.

In 2026, the CoE’s primary focus will be the formulation of regulations, operational standards, and the strengthening of digital-based educational systems. Research based nutrition intervention programs will also continue, including program evaluations in eastern Indonesian regions such as Jayapura and Biak in collaboration with international partners.

“We are open to collaborating with anyone, as long as the goal is to provide proper, research based nutrition education to the public,” said Prof Erika.

Through this CoE mandate, she hopes that the national nutrition fulfillment program can be implemented in a more targeted manner, based on scientific data, and generate direct impacts on improving the quality of life, health, and welfare of the Indonesian people. (dh) (IAAS/ADF)