June 4, 2025 • News, Business • by Erika Okada (Translated by Dennis T)

What is Indonesia’s free school meal program Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG)?

What is Indonesia’s free school meal program Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG)?

In Indonesia, the free meal program “Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG),” launched in 2025 by President Prabowo, is attracting great attention.
This policy aims to provide nutritious meals to approximately 83 million people to improve children’s health and reduce stunting.
However, it is also true that many issues have emerged, such as the large financial burden and operational challenges.
In this article, we will explain in detail the outline of the free school meal program, its economic effects, financial sustainability, implementation methods, comparison with Japan, and future prospects.

Outline of the Free School Meal Program “Makan Bergizi Gratis” (MBG)

President Prabowo Subianto launched Indonesia’s free meal program “Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG)” in 2025 as a groundbreaking social policy targeting 83 million people. The program provides nutritious meals to school-age children and pregnant women nationwide, aiming to combat child malnutrition—particularly stunting, which affects 21.5% of children under five. By improving nutrition, the initiative seeks to enhance future generations’ health while boosting farmers’ incomes and revitalizing local economies.

インドネシアの西ジャワ州チマヒにて、無償給食Makan Bergizi Gratis(MBG)プログラム初日に昼食をとる生徒たち。

Students eating lunch on the first day of Indonesia’s free meal program Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG).

As a campaign pledge from the presidential election, the program requires a total budget of 450 trillion rupiah (≈4 trillion yen) over five years. In 2025 alone, 71 trillion rupiah (≈600 billion yen) funded meals for 15 million children and pregnant women, with plans to expand to 83 million beneficiaries by 2029. Every student from early childhood education to high school, along with pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, will receive one daily meal—covering roughly one-third of daily caloric needs. This initiative represents a bold investment in Indonesia’s children, the nation’s future.

Economic Effects of the Free School Meal Program

インドネシア無償学校給食の経済効果

Growth Strategy and Economic Stimulus

President Prabowo’s goal of raising Indonesia’s economic growth rate from 5% to 8% hinges on the free meal program as a dual catalyst for human capital development and rural revitalization. By improving child nutrition, the policy aims to boost long-term GDP while delivering immediate economic stimulus through 600 billion yen in initial government spending. However, experts warn that the program’s scale risks fiscal instability if not managed carefully.

Job Creation and Ripple Effects on the Rural Economy

The program directly creates jobs by engaging 2,000 cooperatives to supply rice, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and milk locally. Initial phases included 190 cooking facilities serving 500,000 meals, with plans to expand to 937 food service operators by March 2025. This expansion will generate roles for kitchen staff, delivery workers, and nutrition managers while increasing farmers’ incomes. Parents also report reduced breakfast preparation burdens, freeing disposable income to stimulate local economies through expanded consumption.

Increased Food Demand and Industry Revitalization

Annual demand projections include 6.7 million tons of rice, 1.2 million tons of chicken, 500,000 tons of beef, 1 million tons of fish, and 40 million kiloliters of milk. This surge in demand revitalizes agriculture and food industries, spreading economic benefits nationwide. To stabilize supplies, the government imports 1.3 million dairy cows while prioritizing local procurement through cooperatives.With the free meal program, it is expected that 6.7 million tons of rice, 1.2 million tons of chicken, 500,000 tons of beef, 1 million tons of fish, fruits and vegetables, and 40 million kiloliters of milk will be needed annually.
This enormous demand will lead to the revitalization of agriculture and the food industry, spreading positive effects to local economies.
Additionally, parents have expressed opinions such as “it helps reduce the burden of preparing breakfast,” and the reduction of household burdens is expected to increase disposable income, which may support local economies through expanded consumption.

Concerns About Prices and Finances

On the other hand, the creation of large-scale food demand may lead to price increases.
Especially if the government procures staple foods like rice in large quantities, there is concern that market prices may rise, increasing the food cost burden on ordinary households.
To prevent supply shortages, the government is primarily procuring from local cooperatives while also considering imports.
For example, a plan is underway to import 1.3 million dairy cows to ensure a stable supply of milk and beef.

In terms of public finances, the massive expenditure could increase the fiscal deficit, but the government has indicated a policy to keep the fiscal deficit within 3% of GDP and is carefully adjusting the budget allocation for the meal program.
At present, it is being managed so as not to become a major inflationary factor, and sustainable operation remains a challenge.

Sources of Funding for the Free School Meal Program

インドネシア無償学校給食の財源

Current Funding and the Need for Additional Budget

The central government fully funds the program through the national budget (APBN), allocating 71 trillion rupiah in 2025 via tax revenues and government bonds. However, reaching the 83 million beneficiary target may require an additional 140 trillion rupiah. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs has proposed supplementary funding in mid-2025, potentially doubling the initial budget.The funding for the free meal program is currently fully covered by the central government’s national budget (APBN).
The necessary expenses have been incorporated into the 2025 budget, and the government intends to cover the costs through tax revenues and the issuance of government bonds, without relying on additional tax increases or external financial aid.
However, there are concerns that the budget may fall short of fully implementing the plan. To reach the target number of beneficiaries, up to an additional 140 trillion rupiah (approximately 8.6 billion USD) in funding may be required.
The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs has mentioned the possibility of allocating supplementary budget funds based on the President’s decision around July–August 2025, which could bring the total to nearly double the initial year’s budget.

Fiscal Discipline and Potential Impacts

While the government aims to keep fiscal deficits within 3% of GDP, the program’s scale risks squeezing other priorities. Experts warn that budget reallocations could cut non-essential programs, while tax hikes or subsidy reductions might strain middle-class purchasing power. Balancing fiscal responsibility with program goals remains a critical challenge.

Reassessing Beneficiaries and Ensuring Sustainability

The idea of providing meals uniformly to all children is also being debated.
Some argue that covering children from wealthy families with public funds may be inefficient, and that in order to enhance fiscal sustainability, there should be a focus on truly vulnerable and needy groups.
This is emerging as a key point of consideration in ensuring the program’s long-term viability.

No Use of International Aid — For Now

Currently, the program does not include any financial assistance from international organizations or other countries.
The Indonesian government has expressed its intention to fund the program entirely through its own financial resources — a contrast to postwar Japan, which received food aid from countries like the United States.
However, if funding shortages become critical in the future, the government may consider financial support from international development finance institutions or UN agencies.
For now, the aim is to ensure sustainability by relying on domestic resources.

Implementation of the Free School Meal Program

インドネシア無償学校給食の実施方法

Implementing Agency

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) leads the program, collaborating with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and local governments. The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) contributes logistics and kitchen operations, leveraging regional military facilities for meal preparation. While this accelerates implementation, critics argue it may marginalize local businesses.To carry out this program, the Indonesian government has newly established the National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional, BGN), which oversees and coordinates efforts across multiple ministries.
BGN works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Food Agency, and local governments to deliver school meals in target areas.

A notable feature is the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in cooking and transportation. In the early stages, local military facilities — particularly regional army commands (Kodim) — took on school meal preparation.
By leveraging the military’s organizational capacity, the government aims to rapidly build a nationwide delivery network. However, concerns have been raised that this may exclude local small businesses.
The program adopts a “central kitchen system”, allowing for the efficient, large-scale preparation of meals while maintaining strict quality control.

Logistics and Supply Chain

A centralized “kitchen system” enables efficient meal preparation and quality control. Cooperatives and certified vendors supply ingredients, with regional kitchens handling cooking and delivery. Urban areas rely on truck-based distribution of insulated meal containers, while rural regions use mobile delivery networks. With Indonesia’s archipelagic geography, military transport and local volunteers ensure nationwide reach, though remote islands pose logistical hurdles.The meal supply chain is supported by procuring ingredients through cooperatives and certified vendors, with centralized cooking and school delivery managed through regional kitchens.
At each school, meals are delivered daily by BGN teams or contracted service providers and distributed to students.

For example, in urban areas, one kitchen serves multiple nearby schools, preparing meals packed in insulated containers or packages and delivered by truck.
In rural areas, a mobile delivery system is being developed. At the initial launch stage, 190 cooking centers were in operation across 26 provinces, delivering around 570,000 meals daily.
These centers and delivery networks will be gradually expanded to reach more schools and areas.

Given Indonesia’s vast archipelagic geography, ensuring stable delivery — including to remote islands — poses logistical challenges. The government plans to utilize military transport capabilities and local volunteers to ensure meal delivery nationwide.

Meal Quality and Nutrition Standards

A key factor in the program’s success is meal quality and adherence to nutrition standards.
Branded as “Free Nutritious Meals,” the government aims to include a balanced combination of staple foods (like rice), protein sources (such as meat, fish, or tofu), vegetables, fruits, and milk in each meal.
The goal is for each meal to provide about one-third of a child’s daily required energy intake.

However, maintaining consistent high standards nationwide is not easy.
Initially, milk was considered a mandatory part of the meal, but due to difficulties in sourcing it in some regions — and because lactose intolerance is common among Asians — it is no longer a requirement.
In fact, in 2017, Indonesia revised its nutrition education campaigns, recognizing that milk is not always essential.

Flexibility in menu planning is essential to accommodate local conditions and the latest nutrition science.
Furthermore, merely providing high-calorie, high-protein meals may not support height growth and may instead lead to weight gain and obesity. Thus, meals must also include iron, vitamins, and other essential micronutrients.
The government plans to continue improving nutrition diversity under the supervision of registered dietitians, aiming to standardize nutrition quality across regions.

Food Safety and Hygiene Management

Food safety is a major challenge.
Soon after the program launched in January 2025, there were several cases of suspected food poisoning.
In one elementary school in Sukoharjo, Central Java, undercooked chicken led to vomiting in about 40 students.
In another case in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, leftovers were reused in meals, reportedly causing diarrhea.

In response, the government mandated that all food providers keep sample meals for 48 hours to allow health authorities to investigate when issues arise.
Hygiene training has also been implemented for kitchen staff to ensure proper food preparation, storage, and delivery — enforcing strict quality control throughout the supply chain.

BGN Director Hindayana stated, “We will tighten protocols based on lessons from these incidents.”
President Prabowo expressed support for swift responses by local authorities and emphasized efforts to prevent recurrence.
Since any lapse in such a large-scale program can affect thousands of children at once, strong governance and oversight are vital.
The government is now working to reinforce food safety standards and monitoring, aiming to ensure safe and reliable school meals for all.

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Comparison with Japan’s School Meal System

日本の給食との比較

Target Scale and Beneficiaries

Indonesia’s free school meal program targets approximately 83 million people, covering more than a quarter of the population. It features a broad range of beneficiaries, from preschool children to high school students, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. In contrast, Japan’s school lunch system is primarily limited to about 9.3 million students in public elementary and junior high schools (a little over 7% of the population), with no unified system for high schools. While in Japan, parents have traditionally borne the cost of school meals, Indonesia has promoted complete free provision from the outset — a major difference between the two.

Management System and Distribution Method

Indonesia employs a centralized system in which the national government oversees operations, and meals prepared at central kitchens are transported and distributed by trucks.

Japan, on the other hand, operates under a decentralized model, with municipalities and local boards of education managing the system using regional school lunch centers or in-school cooking facilities. Japan also uses a “lunch duty” system where students serve meals themselves, and warm food is typically provided at school.

Japan has a legal framework based on the School Lunch Act (established in 1954), whereas Indonesia’s system is still in its early stages, employing centralized methods such as involving the military in operations.

Policy Objectives and Background

Indonesia’s free meal program is primarily aimed at addressing serious issues of malnutrition and poverty. It was introduced as a campaign promise by President Prabowo to tackle the issue that “too many children cannot eat breakfast.” The program is also part of a long-term national strategy that includes revitalizing rural economies and developing human capital.

Japan’s school lunch program, in contrast, was revived under the guidance of the GHQ (General Headquarters of the Allied Forces) after World War II as a response to postwar malnutrition and was institutionalized during the 1950s.

Today, it is considered part of “educational activity,” focusing on promoting food education and understanding of local ingredients. In recent years, more municipalities have introduced free lunches as a child-rearing support measure. While Indonesia emphasizes “nutritional security and poverty alleviation,” Japan focuses more on the “educational and welfare” aspects.

Funding and Cost Burden

Indonesia’s free meal program is entirely funded by the national budget, with an initial budget of approximately 600 billion yen (about 0.5% of its GDP). As the program expands, there is concern over the potential increase in fiscal burden.

In Japan, the traditional model involves parents covering food costs, while municipalities support personnel and facility expenses. The average monthly lunch cost is about 4,688 yen for elementary school students and 5,367 yen for junior high students.

As of September 2023, 30% of municipalities have implemented full free school meals, but due to Japan’s high level of public debt, the national government remains cautious about implementing universal free meals.

Impact on Children’s Health and Education

In Indonesia, the program is expected to improve stunting and anemia rates, with a target to reduce the percentage of stunted children to below 14% by 2024.

In Japan, nutritional deficiencies were largely resolved by the period of rapid economic growth, and current concerns are more focused on obesity and imbalanced diets. Studies suggest that school lunches help prevent obesity, and school lunch is considered an important opportunity for “food education.”

Additionally, school meals help provide equal access to nutrition, reducing the sense of exclusion due to poverty. In Japan, the philosophy of “not making children feel socioeconomic differences” has long been upheld, and Indonesia’s free school meal program also plays a role in promoting social inclusion.

However, providing the same meal to all children may not always be optimal. Going forward, challenges include focusing support on children in need and enhancing nutrition education.

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Challenges and Future Outlook of Free School Meal Programs

Financial Sustainability

The biggest challenge is the sustainability of finances. To provide meals to all targeted recipients as planned, additional budget is required, and if securing funding becomes difficult, there is a risk of a decline in the quality or quantity of meals or a reduction in the coverage area.

Issues with Fraud and Management

During the trial phase, rumors spread that schools forced parents to buy lunchboxes, effectively making the program paid, and cases of fraud related to the meal service were also reported.

Since this project involves huge budgets, monitoring to prevent corruption and fraud is crucial. Additionally, there are concerns about disparities in meal content and management between urban and rural areas, with issues such as “monotonous menus” and “differences in frequency of provision” needing to be addressed.

Considerations for Improvement

  1. Prioritizing Support Targets

    Currently, meals are provided uniformly even to children from wealthy families, but “semi-targeting” (partial prioritization) based on nutritional status and income levels is worth considering. For example, providing meals and nutritional supplements in impoverished areas while limiting meal provision to a few times a week in urban areas could allow for flexible regional operations. However, creating excessive disparities may undermine support for the system, so careful balance is necessary.

  2. Coordination with Related Policies

    Meals alone cannot solve children’s nutrition problems; a comprehensive approach including nutrition education at home, improvements in hygiene, parasite control, and food fortification is indispensable. The government plans to promote health and nutrition measurements for children and nutrition education campaigns for parents alongside meal provision.

  3. Reducing Food Waste

    Mass cooking and mass delivery cause leftover food and increased waste, leading to wasted food resources. It is necessary to implement proper portion control and systems for reusing leftovers (such as composting and feed conversion) to reduce environmental impact.

Future Outlook

President Prabowo’s free school meal program, despite numerous challenges, is an important investment for the health of Indonesia’s future generations and national development. By continuously improving the system through trial and error, its benefits can be maximized.

Ensuring adequate nutrition for children contributes not only to human resource development but also to reducing medical expenses and social stability in the long term.

In Japan, child poverty and declining birthrates are also critical issues, and Indonesia’s initiatives offer valuable insights. Although the circumstances of both countries differ, the shared ideal of “providing healthy meals to all children” paves the way for future information sharing and cooperation that could enhance policies in both nations.

If Indonesia’s free meal program becomes sustainable, it will be a great legacy for future generations.

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Summary

Indonesia’s free school meal program is a crucial policy supporting children’s health and the country’s future.

In the short term, employment creation and rural economic revitalization are expected, but challenges such as increasing fiscal burdens and operational efficiency also emerge.

To improve sustainability, measures such as prioritizing support targets, coordinating with related policies, and reducing food waste are necessary.

Moreover, comparing with Japan’s school meal system to explore optimal operational methods suited to each country’s circumstances is also important.

Under the ideal of “delivering nutritious meals to all children,” attention will focus on how Indonesia’s school meal program will develop moving forward.

Glossary of Terms Used in This Article

Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG): Indonesian for “free nutritious meals.” The name of the free school meal program launched in 2025.
Stunting: A condition where chronic malnutrition during early childhood inhibits height growth. About 21.5% of Indonesian children under five are affected.
3% GDP Deficit Rule: Indonesia’s fiscal policy standard to keep the fiscal deficit within 3% of GDP.
Semi-targeting: A policy to allocate resources focused on groups in need. For free school meals, this could mean increasing meal frequency in low-income areas while limiting it in urban areas.
Fortification: Adding vitamins and minerals to food to enhance nutritional value, used in areas with nutrition deficiencies.
Portion Control: Management technique to provide appropriate meal portions and reduce food waste.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. Who is eligible for Indonesia’s free school meal program?
A. Children from preschool through high school and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are eligible. The program aims to cover about 83 million people by 2029.

Q2. Why is this program important?
A. Indonesia faces serious child malnutrition problems, especially stunting. Providing free meals is expected to improve children’s health and academic performance.

Q3. Where does the program’s funding come from?
A. Currently, the entire budget is from Indonesia’s national budget (APBN). However, additional funding will be needed as the program expands, making fiscal sustainability a challenge.

Q4. Are there economic impacts from free school meals?
A. In the short term, rural economic revitalization and job creation are expected, but large increases in food demand could also raise prices.

Q5. How does it differ from Japan’s school meals?
A. Indonesia’s meals are completely free, centrally managed, and use military transport networks. Japan’s meals are managed by municipalities, with some offering free meals but traditionally requiring parental fees.

Q6. What are future challenges?
A. Increasing financial burden, preventing operational fraud, and addressing regional disparities are major issues. Reducing food waste and maintaining nutritional balance are also important themes.

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