Gerakan Edukasi dan Pemberian Pangan Bergizi untuk Siswa (GENIUS) is one of the programs to support the handling of food insecurity and improve the quality of human resources to reach the Golden Generation 2045. This activity is a form of cooperation between the National Food Agency and the Association of Indonesian Higher Education Institutions for Nutrition (AIPGI). The cooperation is carried out in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Head of the National Food Agency and the Chairperson of AIPGI number; 154/HK.03.01/K/6/2023, and number: 009/NK/AIPGI/VI/2023 dated June 26, 2023, which was followed by a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Deputy for Food Insecurity and Nutrition and the General Secretary of AIPGI along with 10 Deans of the Faculty of Nutrition Science at AIPGI Member Universities spread across 10 provinces of GENIUS activities, namely Aceh represented by Teuku Umar University, North Sumatra represented by Medan State University, West Sumatra represented by Andalas University, South Sumatra represented by Sriwijaya University, West Java represented by IPB University, East Java represented by Airlangga University, Bali represented by Dhyana Putra University, North Sulawesi represented by Muhammadiyah Manado University, West Sulawesi represented by West Sulawesi University, and South Sulawesi represented by Hasanuddin University.
The launching of GENIUS activities in East Java province was held on Monday (9/10/23) in Probolinggo City. This activity was attended by students from public elementary schools in Probolinggo City, including Wonoasih 1 Elementary School, Wonoasih 2 Elementary School, and Jrebeng Kidul Elementary School. In addition to Probolinggo City, the East Java Provincial Agriculture and Food Security Office initiated a simultaneous GENIUS launch which was carried out in a hybrid in 11 locations spread across 5 districts/cities of GENIUS beneficiaries in East Java, namely Probolinggo City, Sidoarjo, Tulungagung, Kediri, and Blitar.
Head of the East Java Provincial Agriculture and Food Security Office, Dydik Rudyk Prasetya, said that the implementation of GENIUS in East Java Province has involved the cooperation of various parties as stipulated in the technical guidelines and operational guidelines issued by the National Food Agency (NFA), including Airlangga University, Faculty of Public Health, as a member of AIPGI to oversee the implementation of baseline to endline, providing thematic educational materials and assistance to providers to provide quality food. At the district/city level, the involvement of the Education Office is also intensified in overseeing the suitability of student data.
The Mayor of Probolinggo, Habib Hadi Zainal Abidin, said in his speech that he appreciated the activities of the GENIUS through the provision of nutritious food made from animal protein. The programs will be carried out through collaboration, both from elements of government, society and also the institutional/university, which later all parties can collaborate well to support the creation of the golden generation of 2045 with smart and healthy human resources. The Mayor of Probolinggo hopes that this GENIUS activity will have a significant impact on building public awareness, especially the younger generation, of the importance of healthy breakfast and snacks to fulfill the nutrition of the Indonesian population.
To deal with food insecurity, collaboration is needed from all parties, including ministries/government agencies, the private sector, and the academic community to realize the achievement of food development targets sustainably by the 2nd Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), namely to end hunger, achieve food security and good nutrition, and improve sustainable agriculture.
Author: Arvina Tria Nitami