JAKARTA, July 18, 2026 – The Center for Research on Society and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (PPKB FIB UI) has declared its full support for the “Makan Dengan Makna” (Eating with Meaning) campaign. This collaborative program was initiated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI), Food Bank of Indonesia (FOI), and the digital platform TikTok to promote healthy lifestyles and celebrate the richness of Indonesia’s local food heritage through the active participation of content creators.
The Director of PPKB FIB UI, Dr. Ahmad Fahrurodji, S.S., M.A., personally attended the campaign launch event in Jakarta. PPKB FIB UI’s presence underscores the importance of viewing healthy eating habits not only through a medical and nutritional lens but also from social, cultural, and local food sustainability dimensions.
On that occasion, Dr. Ahmad Fahrurodji shared his insights regarding the essence behind the “Makan Dengan Makna” movement. According to him, the act of consuming food has deep cultural roots that shape a community’s identity.
“Food is not merely a biological matter or a means of nutritional fulfillment; rather, it is a cultural product that harbors history, local wisdom, and national identity. The ‘Makan Dengan Makna’ campaign is highly strategic because it bridges modern health education with an appreciation for the archipelago’s rich local culinary heritage through digital mediums heavily favored by the younger generation,” Dr. Ahmad Fahrurodji stated.
He further added that PPKB FIB UI stands ready to support this movement through a socio-cultural research approach. Understanding public consumption behavior and preserving local food traditions are considered fundamental cornerstones for building healthy and sustainable food security in Indonesia.
PPKB FIB UI hopes that this multi-stakeholder collaboration will spark the development of various applied research initiatives and public policies that are more sensitive to the cultural aspects of food, ultimately cultivating a healthier and more empowered Indonesian generation.