Reconstra and SHAPE Asia Gather Stakeholders to Discuss Healthy Food Policies

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Reconstra, an Indonesian consulting, research, and training institution focusing on public health, nutrition, and education, and SHAPE Asia Forum gathered stakeholders. They discussed healthy food environment policies in Indonesia. The discussion took place during the SHAPE Asia Country Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

The forum highlighted the importance of stronger policy coordination to improve healthy food environments in Indonesian schools. The participants also discussed education strategies, public communication, and multi-sector collaboration supporting healthier food choices.

Director of Reconstra, Iwan Ariawan, during the interviews with Voice of Indonesia, said his institution has worked closely with several Indonesian ministries on related policies. He said the cooperation includes supporting regulations on healthy food environments in schools.

“In Indonesia, actually we are working with the related ministries. One of it is the Ministry of Health. So, we try to help them to shape the policy and the regulation about the healthy food environment in the school,” he said.

Iwan also affirmed the importance of public education regarding healthier school food environments through media collaboration. He hoped Voice of Indonesia could help broaden public understanding about healthy food issues in schools.

Then, in his remarks, Iwan stressed that improving healthy food environments in schools requires broader strategies beyond regulations alone. He emphasized the importance of education, communication, and stronger involvement from schools and local governments.

“We need more than guidelines. We need the strategy. We need the strategy how to educate the children, how to educate the parents. We need the communication strategy. We need the involvement of the school board. We need advocacy to the school board, to the local government. So, it is not just the regulation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, SHAPE Asia Project Lead Elaine Borazon highlighted that healthier school food environments require broader systemic approaches beyond individual behavior changes. The discussion also emphasized affordability, accessibility, and equitable food systems for children.

“Improving a school food environment is not only about changing the individual behavior, it's about creating a system or an ecosystem that makes culture choices easier, affordable, and accessible, and equitable,” she said .

The meeting was attended by representatives from ministries, universities, international organizations, and public health institutions across Asia. The collaboration is expected to strengthen Indonesia’s healthy food environment policies and public awareness initiatives nationwide.