This August marks the 79th anniversary of Indonesia's independence. While the world is grappling with issues like climate change, economic instability, and technological disruption, Indonesia is also presented with new opportunities. The theme “New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia” encourages us to look forward to a brighter future.

In the context of food security, Indonesia has been striving to achieve self-sufficiency in food production through various programs, including the development of skilled agricultural workforce. SMERU, supported by the Netherlands, is researching the potential of North Sumatran agricultural graduates to meet this demand. We highlight this research in this newsletter. 

Also, this year marks the 10th anniversary of Indonesia's National Health Insurance (JKN) program. SMERU examined the program’s origins from a political economy perspective, highlighting key actors and their roles. You can discover more insights in our report. 

Finally, we are pleased to announce that The SMERU Research Institute's leadership will be extended for another five years. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our journey, and I look forward to our continued partnership in producing high-quality research that will inform policies aimed at improving the lives of the disadvantaged and promote greater equity.