What’s on My Plate? A Human Rights Reflection on an Indonesian Everyday Meal

Introduction: A Plate I never Questioned

Every day, millions of Indonesians begin or end their day with a familiar and modest meal. Rice sits at the center of the plate, accompanied by tempe or tofu, eggs, chicken, or seafood as sources of protein, spicy sambal to awaken the appetite, vegetables for balance, and fruit to complete the meal. Yet this humble plate rarely invites further thought on how such an ordinary and comforting meal, so deeply embedded in our daily routines, carries with it complex stories behind every ingredient. Each story involves how the ingredients are produced, the hands that cultivate, harvest, process, and transport them, and the business decisions that shape these journeys long before the food is served. Seen through a business and human rights lens, these stories offer an entry point into the salient human rights issues embedded in everyday routines, revealing complex supply chain networks that are often absent from our dining table discussions.

 

This article aims to reflect on how everyday food is deeply connected to business and human rights, drawing attention to how modest staple meals can be linked to human rights risks. It also examines the supply chain networks that staple foods pass through before reaching our plates. 

Rice, and the Question of Who Feeds the Nation

Rice is a must in every Indonesian household. According to Badan Pusat Stastik (BPS), rice production for food consumption in January 2025 was estimated to reach 1.24 million tons, representing an increase of 0.37 million tons, or 42.21 percent, compared to the 0.87 million tons recorded in January 2024.1 In Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, rice is a strategic national commodity. Beyond serving as the primary staple food for most of the population, it also plays a crucial economic role by providing employment for millions of people, especially in rural areas. Fluctuations in rice supply and prices therefore have implications not only for economic activities, but also for social and political stability in Indonesia.2

While rice is synonymous with survival and dignity in Indonesia, its production is overwhelmingly dependent on small hold farmers. Of the country’s total rice production, it is estimated that around 73 million tonnes are produced by small farmers–typically cultivating plots ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 hectares. In total, rice cultivation in Indonesia spans approximately 13 million hectares of agricultural land.3 These facts show how important the rice farmers are, yet they often face human rights related issues. Small landholdings and weak bargaining power leave many farmers economically vulnerable, affecting their right to an adequate standard of living. Limited access to social protection, credit, and safe agricultural inputs also raises concerns related to their right to health and safe working conditions, while land tenure insecurity threatens their rights to land, livelihood, and food.4&5 

While business and human rights discussions largely focus on human rights issues associated with large-scale companies, questions remain as to how far BHR initiatives, such as human rights due diligence (HRDD), can be meaningfully contextualized for small-scale producers, especially small-scale farmers. Although guidelines for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are available, the BHR landscape continues to prioritize large corporate actors, resulting in a massive effort being needed to implement HRDD in an SME setting. The bottom line is, our favorite source of carbs is often sourced through small farmers who are not free from human rights risks or impacts.

Chicken and Seafood: Protein with Conditions 

What is your go-to protein? Whether it is chicken or seafood, you can discover occupational health and safety issues across both industries, especially in Indonesia. Workers in the poultry industry are frequently exposed to various occupational hazards, including ammonia from poultry waste, dust, and bacteria, as well as the risk of injuries from cutting tools and machinery. In many cases, these risks are not adequately mitigated by the provision of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), increasing the likelihood of health problems and workplace accidents and raising concerns regarding the right to health and safe working conditions.6&7

Poultry consumption Indonesia reached 4.74 million tons in 2025. From 1990 to 2025, consumption increased by 4.23 million tons, although this growth was uneven rather than steadily incremental. Looking ahead, consumption is projected to rise consistently by an additional 1.53 million tons between 2025 and 2034, indicating a clear upward trend.8 Thus, it is even more imperative that BHR plays a crucial role in preventing and mitigating any more risk to employees in the poultry industry.

The seafood industry also faces multiple extreme human rights issues, ranging from forced labor, including human trafficking, occupational health and safety, to gender related issues, according to a report by the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST). Fishers, particularly migrant workers, are vulnerable to abusive recruitment, debt bondage, physical and emotional abuse, and unsafe conditions at sea, as documented by the International Labor Organization and national investigative reports.9

Chicken, seafood and many other vital sources of protein carry significant human rights risks in their production, indicating the need for deeper reflection on how protein supply chains are governed, particularly in relation to labor conditions, occupational health and safety, and the protection of vulnerable workers throughout.

Tempeh and Tofu, They Travel too Far 

What about tempeh or tofu for additional protein? Indonesian households often consume tempeh and tofu at every meal. While tempeh and tofu as a traditional meal originated from Java, its main ingredient, soybean, is heavily imported. According to BPS, the United States and Canada are the top two soybean exporters to Indonesia.10 Currently Indonesia imports more than two million tons of soybeans per year.10

Our favorite yet humble tempeh and tofu have a complex supply chain network, as stated above, that involves multiple interconnected actors, and human rights risks may emerge at every stage of the network. At the production level, risks include land insecurity, exposure to agrochemicals, and the general economic condition of Indonesian farmers. During import or trading, price volatility may threaten the livelihoods of small producers in the country. While in the processing stage, risks of occupational health and safety need to be monitored more. All of which shows that even everyday food such as tempeh and tofu are closely linked to broader labor risks. 

No Sambal, No Appetite: The Hands That Harvest Chili 

There is an unspoken understanding among Indonesians that sambal is an essential part of every meal, at any time of the day. Made from chili peppers, hundreds of varieties of sambal can be found across Indonesia, spanning thousands of islands and offering distinct levels of heat and flavor. According to data from the Food Price Panel cited from Badan Pangan Nasional, as of 7 March, 2025, the price of red bird’s eye chili was 49.97 percent above the reference selling price (HAP) at the consumer level. The national average price of red bird’s eye chili reached IDR 85,482 per kilogram (kg)11. The price is likely to continue escalating, or remain highly volatile, due to various factors including seasonal fluctuations, extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, rising production costs, pest outbreaks, distribution inefficiencies, and speculative trading practices. 

Behind the price, human rights–related issues often remain overlooked. While there is no nationally disaggregated data specifically identifying child labour in chili farming, child labour remains a significant concern within Indonesia’s agricultural sector. According to the Panduan Praktik Ketenagakerjaan untuk Penanggulangan Pekerja Anak Bagi Perusahaan dan Rantai Pasok di Sektor Pertanian issued by the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, approximately 26.55% of total child labor in Indonesia is found in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, national data indicate that 58.5% of child labor occurs in rural areas, where agricultural activities are concentrated, and are largely carried out by family members, increasing the likelihood that children assist in family-based agricultural work. 12

Vegetables and Fruits and the Quiet Labor Behind Freshness 

Like in chili farming, the deep, quiet practice of children working as laborers is widespread in vegetable related farming. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 60% of all child laborers aged 5–17 worldwide work in agriculture, the majority of whom are unpaid family members, meaning they work without formal contracts or protections.13 This helps explain why children working in small family farms can be a systemic risk, even if not crop-specific. 

While fruits close the meal with sweetness and a sense of completeness, fruit production, especially in large scale plantations, can also involve human rights related risks. Let’s take bananas, for example. Scholars have highlighted how global fruit industries such as bananas are structured by gendered labour dynamics that marginalise women’s work. In Bananas, Beaches and Bases, Cynthia Enloe examines how the banana industry’s global trade and corporate practices have historically placed women in undervalued and insecure labour positions. Thus revealing how everyday agricultural commodities are shaped by intersecting systems of gender and economic power. What appears as a light and pleasant ending to a meal carries its own set of human rights considerations along its supply chain.

“After the Plate Is Empty” 

An everyday meal maybe finished, and the plate empty. Yet the stories behind the meal continue, told by farmers, workers, and communities whose rights remain inseparable from what we consume. Echoing the above, it becomes evident that the issues discussed are deeply connected to corporate responsibility within global supply chains. A remaining question, therefore, is how can businesses meaningfully exercise their responsibility to respect human rights when these risks are embedded in complex, multi-layered networks that stretch far beyond the dining table? This article invites reflection on how mindfulness in consumption must extend beyond price and taste, toward an awareness of the human rights implications embedded within global food supply chains. Ultimately, the question is to each of us: When we sit down for our next meal, are we willing to consider not only what is on our plate, but also whose rights, labor, and dignity made that meal possible?

References:

1 Badan Pusat Statistik. (2025). Paddy Harvested Area and Production in Indonesia (Based on ASF Observation in January 2025). https://www.bps.go.id/en/pressrelease/2025/03/03/2493/---in-january-2025--paddy-harvested-area-is-0-42-million-hectares-producing-an-estimated-2-16-million-tons-of-dry-unhusked-paddy--gkg---the-estimated-rice-production-for-food-consumption-is-1-24-million.html 

2 Saliem, H. P., Hermanto, N., Suryani, E., Suhaeti, R. N., & Ariani, M. (2023). The Dynamics of Indonesian Consumption Patterns of Rice and Rice-Based Food Eaten Away From Home. Analisis Kebijakan Pertanian, 17(2), 95–110. https://doi.org/10.21082/akp.v17n2.2019.95-110 Normal 0 false false false EN-ID X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Food and Agriculture Organization. (2018). Indonesian Smallholder farmers contribute trillion of rupiahs to investment in food | FAO. Fao.org. https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1145605/

3 Food and Agriculture Organization. (2018). Indonesian Smallholder farmers contribute trillion of rupiahs to investment in food | FAO. Fao.org. https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1145605/ Normal 0 false false false EN-ID X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Coates, K. (2025, February 25). Indonesia signs agrarian reform commitment amid rising land equity woes. Mongabay Environmental News. https://news.mongabay.com/2025/02/indonesia-signs-agrarian-reform-commitment-amid-rising-land-equity-woes/

4 Coates, K. (2025, February 25). Indonesia signs agrarian reform commitment amid rising land equity woes. Mongabay Environmental News. https://news.mongabay.com/2025/02/indonesia-signs-agrarian-reform-commitment-amid-rising-land-equity-woes/ 

5 Touch, V., Tan, D. K. Y., Cook, B. R., Liu, D. L., Cross, R., Tran, T. A., Utomo, A., Yous, S., Grunbuhel, C., & Cowie, A. (2024). Smallholder farmers’ challenges and opportunities: Implications for agricultural production, environment and food security. Journal of Environmental Management, 370(122536), 122536. 

6 Subchan, V. Z. A., & Krismahardi, A. (2025). Potensi Kadar Amonia dan Karakteristik Pekerja terhadap Gangguan Kesehatan Peternak Ayam Petelur. Buletin Keslingmas, 44(2), 88–98. https://doi.org/10.31983/keslingmas.v44i2.12747 

7 Harmse, J., Engelbrecht, J., & Bekker, J. (2016). The Impact of Physical and Ergonomic Hazards on Poultry Abattoir Processing Workers: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 197. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020197

8  Statista. (2026). Poultry meat consumption Indonesia| Statista. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1602911/indonesia-poultry-consumption/?srsltid=AfmBOoqM-dAZbF-fOsgt-d7C86BZlQWuLZRfO-RcJXdlVNLnMYid_p2s

9 International Labour Organization. (2025). Understanding working conditions of fishers in Indonesia Evidence from the 2024 Survey on Decent Work in Marine Fishing Executive summary. https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/Understanding%20working%20conditions%20of%20fishers%20in%20Indonesia%20%28Executive%20Summary%29.pdf

10 Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia. (2017). Impor Kedelai menurut Negara Asal Utama, 2017-2024 - Tabel Statistik. Bps.go.id; Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia. https://www.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/1/MjAxNSMx/impor-kedelai-menurut-negara-asal-utama--2017-2024.html 

11 Badan Pangan Nasional. (2023). Badan Pangan Nasional - Badan Pangan Nasional Upayakan Penstabilan Harga Cabai dengan GPM dan FDP - Blog. Badanpangan.go.id. https://badanpangan.go.id/blog/post/badan-pangan-nasional-upayakan-penstabilan-harga-cabai-dengan-gpm-dan-fdp

12 Bappenas, Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan, & Kementerian HAM. (n.d.). Panduan Praktik Ketenagakerjaan untuk Penanggulangan Pekerja Anak Bagi Perusahaan dan Rantai Pasok di Sektor Pertanian. https://www.paaclaindonesia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Booklet-Panduan-Praktik-Ketenagakerjaan-Untuk-Penanggulangan-Pekerja-Anak-Bagi-Perusahaan-dan-Rantai-Pasok-di-Sektor-Pertanian.pdf

13 International Labour Organization. (2024, January 28). Child labour in agriculture | International Labour Organization. Www.ilo.org. https://www.ilo.org/international-programme-elimination-child-labour-ipec/sectors-and-topics/child-labour-agriculture