The Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC) organized a Dialogue Forum themed “Strengthening the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus to Support Sustainable Food Security.” This forum brought together national policymakers, academics, the private sector, international organizations, and key stakeholders from Indonesia and abroad to formulate strategies for strengthening the interlinkages between water, energy, and food as the foundation of Indonesia’s food security, in line with the Asta Cita agenda of the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the priorities of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
The dialogue was held at a critical moment when Indonesia faces increasing challenges related to rising demand for nutritious food, access to affordable energy, and the availability of clean water, all of which are under growing pressure from urbanization, climate change, and environmental degradation. Therefore, the WEF Nexus approach is needed as a comprehensive strategy that integrates policy, development implementation, and cross-sector collaboration.
In his opening remarks, the Founder of PYC and former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia (2000–2009), Prof. Ir. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, M.Sc., M.A., Ph.D., emphasized that food security can only be achieved if Indonesia is able to manage energy and water efficiently, measurably, and sustainably.
“Food, water, and energy are three interdependent pillars. Without well-managed water, there can be no food production. Without energy efficiency, we cannot distribute food equitably. The WEF Nexus approach must become the foundation of national policy if we want to realize sovereign and sustainable food security.”
— Prof. Purnomo Yusgiantoro
The opening keynote address was delivered by Retno L.P. Marsudi (UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water), followed by panel sessions that served as a platform for sharing perspectives from national and international figures. The panelists included Prof. Dr. Laode Masihu Kamaluddin, M.Sc., M.Eng. (Chairman of International Digital Sustainability Consultant), Dadang Jainal Mutaqin, S.Hut, M.EMD, Ph.D. (Senior Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS), and Prof. Bayu Krisnamurthi (IPB University). The forum also invited the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. (HC) Zulkifli Hasan, S.E., M.M., who was represented by Dr. Ir. Nani Hendiarti, M.Sc. (Deputy for Coordination of Food Affordability and Security, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs).
The panel discussions addressed various strategic aspects, ranging from global water diplomacy, environmental conservation and local community empowerment, strengthening cross-sector collaboration through a pentahelix approach, the geo-economic impacts on strategic resources, to food supply chain reform and agribusiness transformation to enhance competitiveness and fairness for farmers.
Closing the dialogue, the Chairperson of PYC, Dr. Filda C. Yusgiantoro, stressed that the WEF Nexus must be applied as a policy strategy that prioritizes collaboration, rather than remaining a purely technocratic discourse.
“The WEF Nexus is not merely a concept, but a strategy to ensure that the Indonesian people have access to nutritious food, affordable energy, and equitable water access. Cross-sector synergy must be strengthened so that policies do not stop at commitments, but are truly implemented in national and regional development programs.”
She further added that the forum also serves as a stepping stone toward the International Food Security Conference (IFSC) 2026, which will strengthen Indonesia’s role as a regional and global hub for dialogue in advocating for sustainable, equitable, and climate- and geopolitics-resilient food systems.
