RRI.CO.ID, Depok - Rendang, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated culinary treasures, stepped into the spotlight on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as both a symbol of cultural diplomacy and a source of humanitarian aid, as ready-to-eat rendang packages were dispatched to disaster-affected communities in Sumatra, underscoring the power of food as a bridge between solidarity and cultural expression.

The initiative was formally launched by Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon at the University of Indonesia’s Makara Art Center in Depok. Titled “Ramadhan of Food Performative: Rendang for Sumatra,” the program delivers 17,000 rendang packages while highlighting cuisine as a medium that unites compassion, identity, and art.

Organized in a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Marandang Institute, the University of Indonesia’s Directorate of Culture, the Jakarta Arts Council, and other partners, the initiative integrates gastronomy with performance art, music, poetry, and ethnographic exhibitions. It reflects a growing movement to position cuisine not only as sustenance but as a cultural force.

Minister Fadli described the program as a “cultural innovation” that merges art and social care, emphasizing rendang’s role as a symbol of Indonesia’s culinary megadiversity.

“Rendang, or randang in Minang, is part of our extraordinary heritage. Its variations are countless; West Sumatra alone has dozens of rendang styles across districts and cities. This is Indonesia’s megadiversity, expressed through food,” he said in a press release confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday, as quoted by Antara.

He also stressed rendang’s practicality as disaster relief: locally sourced, preservative-free, long-lasting, and ready to eat without reheating.

“Gotong royong is the key. Cross-institutional collaboration like this shows that with collective spirit, we can deliver real solutions for our brothers and sisters affected by calamity,” Minister Fadli added.

Universitas Indonesia’s Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Hamdi Muluk, linked the initiative to the Minangkabau philosophy of Tungku Tigo Sajarangan, underscoring how rendang diplomacy strengthens cultural identity while extending care to disaster survivors.

Chef Aidil Usman noted that the effort prepared 1.5 tons of rendang, supported by 26 woks, 26 gas stoves, and 26 cooking hearths -- community-driven facilities powered by donations and collective effort. ***