Responding to the growing concern over rising food imports, a new movement called the Indonesia Locavore Society (ILS) was officially launched in Bandung on November 1, 2025. The initiative aims to encourage Indonesians to prioritize local food consumption and reduce reliance on imported commodities. According to Syarif Bastaman, founder and advisor of ILS, data from January to August 2025 shows a sharp increase in food imports — rice imports reached 3.05 million tons (up 92% year-on-year), wheat 8.43 million tons, soybeans 2.05 million tons, and sugar 3.38 million tons. Syarif emphasized that ILS seeks to build food sovereignty starting from daily choices at the dining table while helping the nation save foreign exchange reserves.
ILS brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds, including agribusiness activists, entrepreneurs, cultural figures, journalists, and comedians. Its chairman, Eep S. Maqdir, explained that the “locavore” movement encourages communities to consume food grown and produced nearby, turning local eating into a cultural and ethical statement about environmental responsibility and respect for local farmers. Upcoming initiatives include launching affordable local food stalls, creating a national Locavore Index, developing a fine dining restaurant in Bali, and establishing a 120-kilometer local food zone to promote sustainability and support small producers.
