Cargill Strengthens Community Well-Being Through Integrated Nutrition, Health, and Economic Empowerment Programs 

Jakarta, 26 May 2026 – As Indonesia continues to prioritize nutrition improvement and stunting reduction, strengthening access to affordable, nutritious food remains critical. In East Java, Cargill contributes by supporting local communities through integrated programs that expand access to nutrition, healthcare, clean water, and sustainable livelihoods.

According to the Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI)¹, new research by Economist Impact, supported by Cargill, Indonesia ranks 29th out of 60 countries with an overall score of 66.52², reflecting strong foundations in food affordability and nutrition access. However, gaps remain in food availability and system resilience, highlighting the need to strengthen how food is produced, distributed, and accessed at the community level.

“At Cargill, we believe that access to nutrition is fundamental to support nourishing communities and building resilient food systems,” said Yusuf Ronzy, Director, Plant Management, Food SEA & ANZ.  “The Index reinforces that strengthening food systems requires action across the entire value chain, from production to consumption. In Indonesia, we are translating these insights into concrete, community-based programs aimed at improving access to nutrition-related education and services, particularly for communities surrounding our operations.”

In Gresik, Cargill supports the “Laskar Cegah Stunting” initiative in Manyar District through collaboration with local health authorities in accordance with their respective roles and responsibilities, schools, community organizations, and village stakeholders to expand community-based stunting prevention efforts across six villages. The program aims to strengthen community capacity to prevent stunting through education on maternal health, breastfeeding, child nutrition and early childhood development. Local health volunteers have been trained to support nutrition education activity, child growth monitoring, and early detection of growth issues, with the goal of helping families improve their understanding of children’s nutritional needs. The program also includes Supplementary Feeding Program activities and regular education classes to support efforts to improve nutritional intake among vulnerable groups, particularly infants and children at risk of stunting.

To help raise public awareness around the importance of nutrition and how to prevent stunting, the program also developed various educational and behavior change communication materials, including nutrition flipcharts, educational videos, and community outreach materials focused on breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, anemia prevention among adolescent girls, and healthy child growth. Interactive outreach activities further engaged parents, adolescents, PAUD students, and breastfeeding mothers through learning sessions designed to encourage healthier daily habits and improve understanding on nutrition awareness at the household level.

Hj. Nur Cholilah, a Laskar Cegah Stunting volunteer in Pegaden Village, Gresik said, “As a community volunteer, we have gained a lot of knowledge to help other mothers. We also support the implementation of breastfeeding classes, parenting activities with Posyandu, and stunting prevention discussions, where the community works together to identify issues and determine the steps needed to address stunting in the village.”

To further expand access to affordable nutrition and healthcare, Cargill’s programs in Pasuruan Regency focuses on supporting access to healthcare services, supplementary nutrition, clean water, and preventive health programs for vulnerable communities surrounding its operations.

Community health and nutrition support

Through partnerships with local Puskesmas and village stakeholders, Cargill supports community health clinics serving hundreds of residents each month in Kepulungan and Ngerong villages, providing access to health consultations, medical screenings, medicines, vitamins, and referrals for further treatment when needed. 

Cargill also supports health monitoring and nutrition programs for infants, teenager, pregnant women, and elderly residents across multiple hamlets in Pasuruan, benefiting more than 440 children and over 400 elderly community members.

Nutrition education and affordable protein access

Through World Food Day and World Egg Day, Cargill promotes nutrition education and distributes protein rich foods such as eggs, tempeh, and soybean milk sourced from local SMEs, reaching more than 1,000 beneficiaries in 2025 alone, including infants, pregnant women, and elderly residents. 

Community resilience and women’s empowerment

Complementing these health and nutrition efforts, Cargill supports access to clean water through the construction of seven deep wells in Pasuruan, benefiting more than 10,000 residents, while also providing entrepreneurship training, financial literacy support, product development assistance, and market access opportunities for women-led SMEs to support efforts to strengthen inclusive local economic growth and sustainable livelihoods. 

Sudarti, Coordinator of Griya UMKM from Ngerong Village, Pasuruan, said, “For small business players like us, Cargill’s support in facilitating the issuance of business identification numbers, halal certification, SPP-IRT certification, digital marketing training, and packaging development has been very helpful. Businesses that previously lacked legal documentation and standardized packaging are now better prepared to compete and grow.” 

These initiatives reflect how Cargill is supporting to strengthen food system resilience by improving access to affordable nutrition, healthcare and economic opportunities at the community level. Guided by more than 160 years of global experience connecting farmers, food producers, customers, and communities across integrated supply chains, Cargill continues to invest in a range of solutions that support food security, nutrition access, and sustainable agricultural development worldwide.

“Building resilient food systems requires continuous collaboration across sectors and practical action on the ground,” added Yusuf. “Through close cooperation with communities, governments, and partners, we aim to help expand access to nutritious food and support stronger, healthier communities across Indonesia.”

 

¹https://impact.economist.com/energy-environment/resilient-food-systems-index
²https://impact.economist.com/energy-environment/resilient-food-systems-index-country-page?&location=IDN