Jakarta, INTI - Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) continues to strengthen Indonesia’s contribution to global food security challenges through the Regional Training Course (RTC) titled Efficient Screening Methods for Improved Nutritional Quality in Mutant Populations, held on April 13–17, 2026, at Harris Hotel & Convention Cibinong, West Java. The program serves as a strategic initiative to enhance the capacity of research human resources in the Asia-Pacific region in addressing malnutrition and the ongoing global food crisis.
The international training is organized through collaboration between BRIN, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Technical Cooperation Bureau under the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) framework. A total of 25 participants from 13 member countries of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) took part in the program to strengthen regional research networks.
Science Diplomacy and Regional Collaboration
BRIN Deputy for Human Resources in Science and Technology, Edy Giri Rachman Putra, emphasized that the world is currently facing major challenges such as hunger, malnutrition, and limited access to nutritious food. He noted that these issues not only affect public health but also global productivity and economic development.
“We are at a critical point in history where hunger, malnutrition, and access to nutritious food still affect billions of people worldwide,” he said.
Edy added that BRIN is committed to supporting national development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strengthening an open research ecosystem. This includes facilitating collaboration, providing research infrastructure and funding, as well as enabling cross-border researcher mobility.
This approach demonstrates that science diplomacy is becoming an important instrument in strengthening Indonesia’s global position. “BRIN is not only focused on research and innovation activities but is also open to collaborative initiatives through infrastructure support, research funding, and researcher and student mobility,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of Competency Development at BRIN, Rahma Lina, stated that the training is not only a knowledge transfer platform but also a strategic space for building professional networks among researchers. Cross-border interaction is expected to open opportunities for long-term collaboration, particularly in developing high-yield and climate-resilient crop varieties.
“This is a great opportunity to strengthen professional networks that can open future collaboration,” she said.
From a policy perspective, Head of the Technical Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretariat, Noviyanti, highlighted the threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, which may further worsen global food security. She stressed the importance of addressing hidden hunger caused by micronutrient deficiencies through cross-sector innovation.
She noted that nuclear technology through mutation-based biofortification offers a promising solution for improving the nutritional quality of crops.
“Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation with BRIN and IAEA, Indonesia is committed to strengthening research and sharing knowledge to develop more nutritious, adaptive, and sustainable crop varieties,” she said.
Similarly, Executive Director of International Nuclear Agency Indonesia, Dimas Irawan, described the training as an important milestone in enhancing human resource capacity in agriculture and food sectors across the Asia-Pacific region.
He expressed hope that the collaboration will continue not only in human resource development but also in creating new technologies to support regional food security.
Mutation Technology for Nutritious and Climate Resilient Crops
Technically, the training combines theory and practice in mutation-based plant breeding and biofortification. Topics include molecular-assisted selection, RNA-seq analysis, multi-omics approaches, as well as phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular screening methods to identify high-nutrition crop varieties. Participants also studied case examples of rice and cassava biofortification in Indonesia.
Through this initiative, BRIN reinforces its position as a key player in the global research ecosystem, particularly in applying nuclear technology for sustainable agriculture. The program represents Indonesia’s tangible contribution toward a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable global food future.
Conclusion
The initiative led by Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional demonstrates Indonesia’s growing role in advancing global food security through science diplomacy and biotechnology innovation. By combining international collaboration, capacity building, and mutation-based crop research, the program strengthens the foundation for more resilient and nutritious food systems. This effort reinforces the importance of shared scientific progress in addressing global challenges such as malnutrition and climate change.
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