TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia showcases its rich variety of local foods at the global exhibition ‘From Seeds to Foods’, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy, from October 10-13, 2025. The country joins nearly 150 other countries in exhibiting its food traditions and technologies at the heart of Rome’s Park of Porta Capena to commemorate World Food Day and FAO’s 80th Anniversary on October 16, 2025.
Indonesia brings to Rome derivative products of its four key commodities from across the country: organic rice from Subang and Tasikmalaya, West Java, and Magelang, Central Java; lady finger bananas from Lumajang, East Java; snake fruit from Karangasem, Bali; and sago from Sentani, Papua.
“Behind every grain of rice or piece of fruit are the hands of farmers, both men and women, young and old, and they deserve not only praise but also respect, justice, and recognition for their hard work in growing our food,” said Rachmat Pambudy, National Development Planning Minister during the exhibition’s opening ceremony in Rome on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Ali Jamil, Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that Indonesia's participation in the exhibition reflects the commitment to transform the agricultural sector into a modern, sustainable, and competitive industry. According to him, productivity is continuously enhanced while maintaining biodiversity and strengthening local value chains.
He explained that the exhibited products also reflect the diversity of Indonesian business actors, ranging from established exporters to SMEs, which he claimed benefit from increased exposure and ongoing support. "We welcome continued international partnerships and investments to advance Indonesia’s vast agrifood potential and contribute to global food security," he added.
The product selection also represents the long-standing cooperation between Indonesia and FAO to improve agrifood systems across sectors, starting from its FAO membership in 1948.
Through FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, for instance, farmers of lady finger bananas in Lumajang receive support to improve their productivity, quality, sustainability, and market readiness.
In Sentani, Papua, the Ministry of Agriculture, with FAO and the New Zealand Embassy’s support, has also built small-scale sago processing units and customary communities’ capacity to improve sustainable sago production, supporting local livelihoods and reducing sago loss. Bali’s snake fruit agroforestry system in Karangasem has also been acknowledged as Indonesia’s first site in the list of FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).
A female farmer collects salak fruit during the harvest in a plantation in Karangasem, Bali. Doc. FAO/Harriansyah
FAO representatives in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Rajendra Aryal, mentioned that Indonesia has a diverse range of food representing strong-rooted traditions and culture. He also stated that Indonesia is open to embracing innovation towards a more sustainable future.
"Through this exhibition, Indonesia once again demonstrates that both traditions and innovations can go hand in hand, supporting local communities and their food security,” said Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.," said Rajendra Aryal.
According to him, the ‘From Seeds to Foods’ global exhibition brings international visitors on an informative and entertaining journey of discovery along the value chains of crops, horticulture, livestock, forestry, and fisheries.
Visitors, he said, will be able to see food production technologies and agricultural products, taste foods from various culinary traditions, hear from agrifood systems experts, and see agricultural machinery and advanced technology close-up.
Rajendra said that this is the first global exhibition by FAO, marking a milestone in the 80-year international efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition. The exhibition is part of the fifth edition of FAO's World Food Forum, containing dialogues, knowledge exchanges, and solution-based collaborations among countries.
"This year's theme is 'Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,' guided by FAO's vision, Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life, leaving no one behind," he said.
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