Why Climate Change Is Also a Nutrition Crisis: Key Insights From a Study in Indonesia

How does climate change affect not only how much food we produce, but also the nutritional quality of the food we consume? Climate change is already affecting Indonesia through rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, sea level rise, droughts, floods, and increasingly frequent hydrometeorological disasters.

GAIN Working Paper n°75: Unlocking New Markets for Tempeh-The Viability of Jack Bean-Based Products

- 24/08/2026

This paper assesses the potential of jack bean as a viable diversification strategy within Indonesia’s soybean-dependent tempeh industry. Such a change could address structural challenges including dependence on imported soybeans, exposure to global price fluctuations, and supply chain vulnerabilities. As a locally sourced, nutritionally competitive, and climate-resilient crop, jack bean offers an alternative protein source that could strengthen Indonesia’s food security and sovereignty. Given Indonesia’s large tempeh market, capturing even a small share represents a significant commercial opportunity.

GAIN Working Paper n°71: Crowdsourcing in Food Systems Research: Lessons from Indonesia and Kenya

- 07/08/2026

Crowdsourcing, i.e., leveraging digital platforms to mobilise distributed contributors for data collection, harnessing the collective power of large, distributed networks of people to accomplish such tasks through open calls has gained traction in recent years, yet practical guidance for implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains limited. This paper examines lessons from three food systems research case studies conducted by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in Indonesia and Kenya between 2019-2024, analysing what worked, what didn't, and why.

From Regenerative Farms to School Plates: How the GAIN Jack Bean Tempeh Initiative is Building a New Food System Model in Aceh

What if a traditional Indonesian food could simultaneously improve soil health, increase farmer incomes, reduce dependence on imported commodities, and provide nutritious meals for schoolchildren? In Aceh, the GAIN Jack Bean Tempeh Initiative is demonstrating exactly that. The project is pioneering a model that connects regenerative agriculture, local food processing, and school meal procurement into a single value chain that benefits farmers, enterprises, students, and the environment.

GAIN and the Ministry of Fisheries Launch National Small Fish Restocking Guidelines

GAIN and Indonesia’s Ministry of Fisheries have launched National Small Fish Restocking Guidelines to support sustainable fisheries, improved nutrition, and stronger local livelihoods. Based on scientific research and field evidence, the guidelines promote ecosystem-based approaches that can significantly increase small fish populations and support long-term restoration of Indonesia’s inland fisheries.

Integrating Food Culture Into Indonesia’s Food System Agenda: The Case for a Cultural Dimensions Approach

- 06/07/2026

Despite decades of nutrition campaigns, more than 95% of Indonesians consume insufficient fruits and vegetables, and high-risk food consumption continues to rise. Current approaches (supply-side intervention, SBCC and other relevant health and nutrition campaigns) are insufficient because they overlook the cultural values, shared identities, and social norms that drive food preferences, not just individual knowledge or choice.

Small Fish Restocking Guideline

- 16/06/2026

This practical guideline provides step-by-step technical guidance for implementing small fish restocking initiatives to improve nutrition, strengthen local food systems, and support sustainable fisheries

When Faith Meets Food: Lessons from the Food Culture Alliance Indonesia's Collaboration with Catholic Institutions

There is something quietly powerful about institutions that have spent centuries mastering the art of storytelling. Long before food systems became a policy agenda, religious communities were already doing something that nutrition programmes have long struggled to achieve: making people feel something about what they consume, share, and value.

Aligning Food Systems with Net Zero Ambition through Sub-National Food and Nutrition Action Plan

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in collaboration with the Food and Land Use Coalition Indonesia (KSPL), officially launched its support for the development of the Regional Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Based on Local Resources (RAD-PG BPSDL) in Trenggalek Regency. The two-day inception meeting marked a critical step toward building a more resilient, nutritious, and sustainable local food system

Climate Change Mitigation Commitment from Our Food Systems

Amidst the rising urgency of climate mitigation, strategies remain heavily dominated by the energy, forestry, and transport sectors as the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, food systems—which account for more than a quarter of Indonesia's emissions—remain on the periphery of climate policy. This critical gap was the focus of the 6th Bincang Pangan Sehat Lestari (BPSL) series held on 11 December 2025. The event brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from both government and NGOs to bridge this divide.