Article Peer-Reviewed
From Policy to Plate: Optimizing SDG Outcomes through School Free Meals Innovation—A Case Study of Indonesia
1
Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
2
Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Pradita, Tangerang, Indonesia
3
Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, USA
*
For correspondence.
Academic Editor:
Received: 28 June 2025 Accepted: 26 November 2025 Published: 11 January 2026
Abstract
Indonesia’s National Free Meals Programme (NFMP) faces systemic challenges of fragmented implementation across agricultural, educational, and logistical sectors. These systemic challenges are compounded by inequitable reach in its archipelagic geography, where rural infrastructure gaps exacerbate disparities. This study examines these issues through an integrated theoretical framework—combining Policy Transfer, Multi-stakeholder Governance, and Sustainable Livelihoods theories—using a mixed-methods approach that synthesises global policy benchmarks, peer-reviewed literature, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment metrics. Key findings identify governance fragmentation, supply chain inefficiencies (notably 15–20% food spoilage in eastern regions), and digital divides as critical constraints. The research proposes a three-tiered intervention framework: (1) geospatially tailored procurement mechanisms; (2) incentivised corporate partnerships for cold-chain infrastructure; and (3) co-created R&D for climate-resilient crops. These strategies synergistically advance SDG 1 (Poverty Reduction), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 4 (Quality Education), demonstrating potential for farmer income gains, reduced child stunting, and improved school attendance. The study contributes to theoretical debates on adaptive policy transfer and offers Indonesia a scalable blueprint for integrated food-security transformation in archipelagic contexts.
Keywords
school free meals programme; sustainable development goals; food security; Indonesia; public policy; smallholder farmers; governance; archipelagic logistics; climate resilience
Copyright © 2026
Lee et al. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use and distribution provided that the original work is properly cited.
Funding
This research is funded under the 2025 Visiting Lecturer Programme organised by Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.
Cite this Article
Lee, J. C. G., Prihatiningtias, Y. W., Simon, F., & Lee, S. S. L. (2026). From Policy to Plate: Optimizing SDG Outcomes through School Free Meals Innovation—A Case Study of Indonesia. Highlights of Sustainability, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.54175/hsustain5010001
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