"We need to change food and culture patterns. We need a Presidential Instruction to support a massive campaign on food diversification," head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) Unggul Priyanto, said at the launching of Food Outlook 2016 by BPPT.
Food diversification is about depending on rice culture that has to be changed, he said.
Indonesias rice consumption reaches 124 kilogram per capita per year, according to Unggul. People also consume beef more than any other meat such as lamb or fish, and such a habit should be changed, he added.
The eating habit of Indonesians is different from the people in other countries who prioritize health, he explained.
Therefore, people should diversify their food and consume healthy food made of alternative materials, such as potatoes, corns, and cassava, Unggul said.
The carbohydrate-containing food diversification is mentioned in Food Outlook 2014, the Deputy of Agro-industry Technology and Biotechnology at the Agency, Eniya Listiani Dewi, said.
"The amount of rice consumption per capita per year in Indonesia is higher than Japan and Korea, which are in the range of 40 to 70 kilograms per capita per year," she added.
The food diversification program should be strongly implemented at the local levels under administrative regulations, she said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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