OUR STORY

Returning to Bandung: Listening, Learning, and Sharing Food

28 June 2026
By Nisrina Qotrunnada (The University of Queensland)

Before the MyINDAH Diet app reaches people’s hands, we wanted to make sure it reflects the realities of the communities it is designed to support.

In early June, the MyINDAH Diet team returned to Bandung to conduct community validation sessions with women from Cibunut and Cibodas. The visit was not only about testing whether the app worked technically. More importantly, it was about listening to how people understand food, nutrition, technology, and daily household needs.

When Social Scientists Step into the Food Lab: Sampling Foods for NIR Measurement

15 December 2025
By Dr Puspitasari (Research Center for Behavioral and Circular Economy-BRIN)

A comprehensive sampling of various food ingredients was recently conducted to support Near-Infrared (NIR) analysis at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) laboratory. The initiative aimed to capture the diversity of commonly consumed foods in Indonesia and generate high-quality data for further research.
Samples were collected from traditional markets across four major cities—Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta—representing different regional food characteristics. Prior to NIR analysis, each sample underwent careful preparation to ensure accuracy and consistency.
What is interesting is that this extensive sampling effort was carried out by Dr. Puspitasari, Mr. Samuel Fery Purba, Mr. Yopi Saleh, Ms. Ratih Kurnia, and Ms. Diah Arina—all socioeconomic researchers from the Research Center for Behavioral and Circular Economics, BRIN.

MyINDAH Diet Project Promotes Collaborative Learning through Group Model Building

October 8, 2025
By Dr Yanti N Muflikh (IPB University - Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Agribusiness)

The MyINDAH Diet Project, funded by KONEKSI and led by the University of Queensland (UQ), recently completed its first round of Group Model Building (GMB 1) workshops across peri-urban Java. Sessions were held on 27 July 2025 in Yogyakarta Raya, 22 August 2025 in Bogor – Jakarta Raya, 15 September 2025 in Bandung Raya, and 5 October 2025 in Gresik–Surabaya Raya. The GMB activities were facilitated by IPB University with support from UGM, UMY, UM, and BRIN, focusing on process learning while results and policy options continue to be developed.

Each workshop followed a structured facilitation flow centered on “Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods in Food Systems.” Discussions introduced the five livelihood capitals—human, social, natural, physical, and financial—and invited participants to connect these with everyday realities in production, markets, nutrition, and exposure to shocks.

Healthy Innovation from Local Wisdom

September 30, 2025
By Dea Mutiarani R, SP., MSM. (Parti Gastronomi)

The MyIndah Diet project blends digital innovation with everyday eating habits. Parti Gastronomi, a research lab for food, culture, and society, supports this collaborative effort to build a community-driven nutrition platform.

The team held a series of qualitative sessions called Botram Sessions. Named after the Sundanese potluck tradition, the sessions provide a relaxed and open setting as an entry point to in-depth discussion. They were conducted in Bandung—urban Cibunut and peri-urban Cibodas—and in Yogyakarta—urban Keraton and peri-urban Minggir.
Each session began with a potluck lunch (botram). Our informants, mainly women’s groups, shared the dishes they brought and explained why they chose them. The discussion continued with a gamified activity called “Isi Piringku” (My Plate).

Beyond the Fields: Women’s Hidden Strength in Java’s Peri-Urban Farming

October 9, 2025
By Dr Nurul Hilmiati (University of Mataram, Faculty of Animal Science, Socio-Economic Laboratory and Centre of Sustainable Farming)

In the peri-urban landscapes of Java—where farmland borders new housing estates and city expansion—women carry responsibilities that are vital yet often invisible. Their daily routines reveal a complex story of resilience, economic contribution, and shifting gender roles within farming communities.

Women as Farmers and Homemakers
In villages like Desa Duku and Cibungbulang, farming is not limited to men. While men perform heavy labor such as plowing, spraying pesticides, and carrying harvests, women are equally essential in preparing seeds, planting, weeding, and harvesting. Many describe themselves as “career women,” juggling dual offices: their household and the farm. By early morning, they are already tending vegetables—cucumbers, spinach, kangkung, and chili—before returning home to cook for their families.

From Alleys to Agriculture: Listening, Learning, and Living in Bandung

October 11, 2025
By Nisrina Qotrunnada (The University of Queensland)

Fieldwork often promises data, but what it truly delivers is perspective. My research in Bandung—across both its dense urban neighbourhoods and quieter peri-urban outskirts—challenged my assumptions about community, empowerment, and sustainability. I learned that understanding people’s lived realities requires not only observation but also humility, adaptability, and a genuine willingness to share space and time.

In Cibunut, an urban neighbourhood celebrated for its community cohesion, I encountered a vibrancy that cannot be captured through surveys alone. The alleys were narrow and the air thick, yet the atmosphere was alive with colour, laughter, and collaboration. Each morning, I joined women tending to community gardens, watering cauliflower plants, or organising neighbourhood activities. These moments revealed that empowerment is not always linked to external resources or formal programs—it often grows from a shared sense of purpose.

Universitas Negeri Malang Strengthens Climate-Smart Agriculture Research Through MyINDAH Project

October 12, 2025
By Dr. Ike Sari Astuti (Universitas Negeri Malang, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography)

As part of the MyINDAH Diet – Inclusive Digital Solutions for Healthy and Sustainable Diets and Food Security in Java’s Urban and Peri-Urban Food Systems project, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) has successfully established a rice demonstration plot in Sidoarjo, East Java. Started in 1st August 2025, the rice plots forms a part of the project’s Climate Cluster, aimed at improving the accuracy of climate and yield prediction models for sustainable rice production under changing climatic conditions. Conducted during the dry-to-wet transition season of 2025, the Sidoarjo plot generates standardised, high-quality field data that serves to validate AquaCrop, the FAO-developed model simulating rice yield responses to varying water regimes.

With advocacy from a BRIN Research Center of Crop’s scientist, the plots focus on quantifying the combined impacts of irrigation and fertilization strategies on rice growth, water productivity, and yield. Three irrigation systems, full irrigation, alternate wetting and drying (AWD-1 and AWD-2), and three fertiliser levels (above, optimum, under ) were tested to assess crop responses under realistic field conditions.

Survey Reveals Digital Literacy Among Farmers in Peri-Urban Areas of Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta

October 12, 2025
By Dr. Zuhud Rozaki (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agribusiness)

Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta – A recent survey examining digital literacy among farmers in peri-urban areas of Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta has revealed insights into how agricultural communities are engaging with technology in the modern era. Conducted through interviews with local farmers, the study assessed their ability to use digital tools, access online information, and adopt technology in farming practices.

The findings show a mixed level of digital literacy among farmers. Younger farmers and those with higher education levels demonstrated stronger skills in using smartphones, accessing agricultural information online, and exploring digital marketplaces. Conversely, older farmers or those with limited formal education faced challenges in navigating digital platforms effectively.

Voices from the Field: Optimism and the Quest for Sustainability among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Peri-Urban Java

October 12, 2025
By Iqbal Saleh Sitompul (School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland)

Participating in the MyIndah project has been a privilege, allowing me to engage more deeply with the agricultural landscape of Indonesia, especially in peri-urban Java. My visit to Indonesia was truly monumental. Beyond data collection, I had the opportunity to collaborate with research partners such as IPB University, which provided invaluable experiences and insights through Group Model Building (GMB) workshops with smallholder farmers. However, nothing compares to the hands-on experience of attending fieldwork. Initially, I felt a mix of curiosity and a bit of worry. Having never visited a farm in Java before, my background in North Sumatra left me uncertain about what to expect.