Jakarta, 3rd July 2025

We’ve just returned from an intense and inspiring journey through Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, meeting farmers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and public officials working every day to feed millions of people.

During our visit, we had the chance to speak at a public dialogue organized by GAPKI titled “Step-by-Step Journey of EUDR: Burden or Benefit?”, which also featured the Honorable Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Bapak Dr. Arif Havas Oegroseno.

We also joined a roundtable discussion hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where discussions focused on strengthening food security in Indonesia – particularly through the role of technology and innovation in improving food production and distribution systems.

Palm oil and the bigger picture of food security

These engagements revealed just how complex and interconnected the palm oil conversation really is. Food security is no longer just about delivering enough calories – it’s about quality, accessibility, sustainability, and fairness across the value chain. Stakeholders on the ground are navigating a web of trade dynamics, regulatory requirements, and environmental responsibilities while working to ensure that millions have access to affordable, nutritious food.

What real food security looks like

Throughout this inspiring journey, we engaged with incredible people who are shaping the future of food security, balanced lifestyles, and sustainable palm oil. These three factors are deeply interconnected.

Real food security means ensuring not just the quantity but the quality of calories, combined with adequate physical activity and strong mental and social well-being. It’s a holistic challenge that requires us to think well beyond calorie counts and address the systems that shape how and what we eat. Simply counting calories is not enough.

Meeting EUDR challenges

Palm oil is an essential part of this answer. Without it, it would be nearly impossible to guarantee affordable, balanced dietary fats for a growing global population, helping people live healthier and longer lives.

The palm oil supply chain is, in many ways, the most advanced in responding to EU requirements like the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), despite the high costs and complex bureaucracy involved, especially for smallholders and small farmers.

Indonesia’s forest commitment: facts over stereotypes

Indonesia, as we had the opportunity to discuss in several sessions – particularly during the panel hosted by GAPKI – is among the countries most committed to protecting its forests over the past decade, as public data clearly shows. This challenges widespread stereotypes and misinformation.

Free trade as a pillar of food security

The next challenge is to continue promoting free trade as a strategic tool for food security, including in Europe, where rising inflation and market complexity still threaten access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. And, of course, we must support higher upstream productivity to meet growing global demand.

Moments That Mattered

Read Replacing Palm Oil? Not a Sustainable Choice>>>