EduAsiaNews, Bogor – Amid Climate Change Challenges and the Need to Strengthen National Food Security, Breadfruit Is Considered to Have Great Potential as a Future Food and Local Indonesian Superfood
Amid the challenges of climate change and the need to strengthen national food security, breadfruit is considered to hold significant potential as both a food of the future and a local Indonesian superfood. According to Prof. Edi Santosa, Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, breadfruit fulfills a number of important criteria that qualify it for this designation.
“A food can be classified as a superfood if it has high nutritional content without antinutrients, provides health benefits, and is cultivated in a manner that produces low carbon emissions and is resilient to climate change. Based on various studies and field observations, breadfruit meets all three of these criteria,” he explained.
In terms of nutrition, Prof. Edi noted that breadfruit possesses several advantages compared to other carbohydrate sources. In addition to being rich in fiber and having a lower glycemic index, breadfruit also contains vitamin C, and several studies have found it to contain vitamin A, folate, iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn), all of which play an important role in supporting nutritional adequacy and preventing stunting.
“Breadfruit also has a better nutritional profile than cassava. However, every food ingredient has its own particular strengths and complements the others, so there is no need to pit them against one another,” he said.
He further explained that another advantage of breadfruit lies in its adaptability to climate change. As a perennial tree crop, breadfruit can grow well both in regions with high rainfall and in arid areas, such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). “With relatively minimal care, breadfruit trees are still able to produce fruit almost year-round,” he added.
According to Prof. Edi, the economic potential of breadfruit is also substantial, particularly if developed into flour form. Breadfruit flour can be processed into a variety of modern food products, ranging from bread and noodles to various other processed foods. This opens up broader market opportunities, including for the needs of the food industry.
Meanwhile, for the export market in the form of fresh fruit, stronger promotional efforts are still needed to help the international community become familiar with how to process and consume breadfruit. He noted that the success of jackfruit in penetrating the global market could serve as an example for the development of other local Indonesian commodities.
“What is needed now is stronger promotion, food culture development, and industry support. Breadfruit-based festivals or competitions could serve as a step toward increasing its popularity. The mass media also has an important role to play in introducing breadfruit as an Indonesian superfood,” he concluded. (Lp
