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Medan<\/strong> \u2013 Sixty-five city governments from across Indonesia gathered in Medan for the 2026 National City Food Forum to unify their efforts to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban food system. Initiated by Rikolto and APEKSI, the forum provided a collaborative space for local governments, national food policy experts, academics, and practitioners to share experiences, identify challenges, and formulate strategic recommendations for strengthening food security at the city level. Various issues emerged during the discussions, ranging from strengthening the food supply chain in major cities to distribution and logistics challenges in island regions like Tual City, which have their own unique geographical characteristics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Bima Arya Sugiarto, emphasized that APEKSI plays a strategic role in building a food ecosystem that focuses not only on production and distribution but also encompasses education, innovation, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration. He stated that efforts to build an urban food system should not be merely ceremonial but must be realized through ongoing synergy between the central government, local governments, development partners, and the community. He also appreciated Rikolto’s contribution in providing the latest data, comparative perspectives across countries, and global best practices as references for city governments in developing more adaptive food policies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Similarly, the Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Ardi, urged all local governments to continue strengthening their bureaucracy, which supports food security, in order to realize a better Indonesia. This forum also served as the launch of the Food Smart City Guide Series, compiled by Rikolto, as a reference for city governments in developing sustainable food policies. The book summarizes various best practices through five main pillars: Regenerative Agriculture, Healthy School Canteens, Food Sharing, Food Waste Management, and Multi-stakeholder Partnerships. Through strengthened collaboration, the 2026 National Food Forum for City Governments is expected to become a milestone in accelerating the realization of food-resilient cities and ensuring access to safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Medan \u2013 Sixty-five city governments from across Indonesia gathered in Medan for the 2026 National City Food Forum to unify their efforts to build a resilient, inclusive, and …