Between Availability and Access: Food Insecurity, Nutrition, and the Dynamics of Agricultural Development in Indonesia

Food insecurity and malnutrition persist as significant challenges in Indonesia, where food availability and access are closely associated with agricultural development. This chapter examines the linkages between agricultural transformation, food security, and nutrition, with an emphasis on structural drivers, such as land conversion, climate change, and economic vulnerability. Using secondary data from various sources, and analyzed descriptively. The prevalence of stunting is 21.6% in 2022; in 2024 it will drop to 19.8%, while the target for 2029 is 14%, which reflects the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU reached 8.27% in 2024), with notable disparities across provinces, particularly in Eastern Indonesia. These conditions underscore the dual challenges of undernutrition and overnutrition, which threaten both food and health security. Situating Indonesia’s experience within national and global frameworks, this chapter aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being). By integrating perspectives on agriculture, food access, and nutrition, it contributes to global strategies for resilience, sustainable food systems, and social work interventions aimed at achieving food and nutrition security in the region.