The Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) is a Strategic Pillar for Developing Superior Human Resources
By: Rahmawati Nur
The Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) is not simply a nutrition intervention policy. It is the starting point in a broader strategy to build superior and globally competitive Indonesian human resources. In this context, the MBG serves as an extension of the government’s efforts to instill health resilience values from an early age, while simultaneously addressing the gap in access to healthy food across various regions.
The central government, through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has made the MBG a priority program. The BGN targets millions of schoolchildren, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers as its primary beneficiaries. The focus goes beyond meeting basic food needs to ensuring that their intake meets national nutritional standards to support optimal growth and development. In a long-term development strategy, adequate nutritional quality is the foundation for the productivity and intelligence of future generations.
The MBG program is also continuously promoted in various regions as a first step in building collective awareness of the importance of adequate nutrition. This outreach not only introduces the program but also encourages the community to actively participate in its implementation. In North Bengkulu Regency, a socialization campaign conducted with Eko Kurnia Ningsih, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), clearly demonstrated how the public is beginning to recognize the importance of synergy between access to nutritious food and improving quality of life. Eko stated that with the right policy support, communities will be increasingly able to address stunting and malnutrition, two crucial issues that have hampered human resource development in many regions.
Data collected from the National Agency for National Development Planning (BGN) also reflects this serious commitment. In West Java Province, for example, 600 of the planned 5,000 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) have been built. West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan revealed that the construction of over 4,000 SPPGs is in the final stages, with the hope that all MBG kitchens will be fully operational by the end of October. If this target is achieved, West Java will become a national pilot province for successful community-based nutrition distribution.
It is important to note that 85 percent of the MBG budget is allocated for purchasing food from local farmers and MSMEs. The Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that this would boost the productivity of the agricultural sector and small-scale food industries. This means that the MBG program is not only about nutrition but also a driver of the people’s economy. Thus, the program’s multiplier effect includes improving public health while increasing local incomes.
The contribution of non-governmental actors is equally significant. For example, the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) has integrated the MBG program into the Islamic boarding school (pesantren) ecosystem. More than a thousand MBG kitchens are targeted to be built in educational institutions under NU’s auspices, with dozens already operational. The nutrition-based approach implemented by PBNU also introduces a new narrative that eating is not just about satiating children, but also supports the comprehensive growth and development of children.
PBNU Chairman, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, stated that changing mindsets about food is the first step in an educational revolution. When children’s nutrition is guaranteed, their learning and thinking capacity will increase. This will accelerate the achievement of the grand vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. PBNU also ensures that kitchen management is carried out by professionals from the Indonesian Development Drivers (SPPI) program, to ensure consistent quality and effectiveness of interventions.
In the national context, the number of beneficiaries is still far from the target. Only 9 percent of the total 82.9 million targets have been reached by mid-2025. However, this demonstrates the scale of the MBG program’s commitment. Compared to other countries, this achievement is equivalent to feeding the entire population of Denmark or Finland. However, Indonesia is different: its vast territory, logistical challenges, and population demand boldness and consistent policies. In this regard, the presence of the MBG is a concrete manifestation of the state’s commitment to its most vulnerable citizens.
Mochamad Halim, a Senior Human Resources Policy Analyst at the National Development Planning Agency (BGN), emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders, including schools, parents, MSMEs, and local governments. He emphasized that no child should learn hungry. With this inclusive principle, the MBG is directed not only as a nutrition provider but also as a platform for education about the importance of healthy eating. Nutrition education must begin in schools and household kitchens to ensure sustainable changes in consumption behavior.
