The food and beverage industry is currently experiencing a significant shift in expectations. Products are no longer evaluated solely on taste and shelf life, but also on their health benefits, transparency, and positive impact on the environment and society. Consumers are increasingly demanding tangible value as part of the new standards they expect from brands. In response to these evolving demands, Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia Indonesia will return on 16–18 September 2026, under the theme “Elevating Food Standards for a Healthier, Greener Future.”

Through this theme, Fi Asia Indonesia reaffirms its role as a strategic platform that drives higher standards of quality, sustainability, and industry leadership within Indonesia’s food and beverage sector and across the ASEAN region. Globally, Fi Asia has long been recognized as a key gathering for the food industry. In Indonesia, Fi Asia serves not only as a trade exhibition, but also as a collaborative space that brings together industry players, innovators, and policymakers to address future challenges in the food sector.

Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), Ir. Adhi S. Lukman, emphasized that improving food quality standards has become a strategic imperative for the industry. “The food and beverage industry can no longer be satisfied with merely meeting minimum regulatory requirements. Moving forward, businesses must proactively enhance quality standards, food safety, and nutritional value to respond to public health challenges while maintaining industry competitiveness,” said Adhi.

He further highlighted that collaboration among industry players, regulators, and scientific institutions is essential to ensure that higher standards can be implemented sustainably. Strong collaboration, he noted, enables the industry to adopt higher benchmarks, support public health, and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the national food sector. These efforts are increasingly critical amid global findings related to food safety. Data from the World Health Organization (World Health Organization) indicates that unsafe food remains a cause of hundreds of millions of illness cases each year.

From a scientific perspective, the enhancement of food standards is inseparable from the role of science and technology. Dr. Puspo Edi Giriwono, Director of the South East Asia Food and Agriculture Science & Technology (SEAFAST) Center, IPB University, stressed that food quality must be built from upstream to downstream processes, from farm to table, through food chain. He underlined the importance of science-based innovation in addressing these challenges. “Elevating food standards means strengthening control over raw materials, formulation, and production processes. The goal is not only to ensure food safety, but also to contribute positively to public health, economy, and long-term trade,” he explained.

According to Dr. Puspo, a deeper understanding of food processing is also essential to building consumer trust amid growing public attention to processed. “Science-based innovation drives and supports of better processing technologies and safer and higher quality raw materials, and data-driven quality assurance system plays a significant role in reducing food safety risks while enhancing the nutritional value of products and strenghtening competitiveness.” he added.

As the organizer, Ms. Rose Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director – ASEAN at Informa Markets, emphasized that Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 is designed to be more than just an exhibition. The event is expected to feature approximately 700 international brands and attract over 24,000 visitors throughout the exhibition period. According to Rose, Fi Asia Indonesia’s strength lies in its ability to connect diverse stakeholders within the food ecosystem.

“Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 serves as a strategic platform that brings together innovation, industry leadership, and sustainability within a single food ecosystem. The theme Elevating Food Standards for a Healthier, Greener Future reflects the urgency of the transformation currently facing the industry. By convening industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers, Fi Asia Indonesia supports the collective efforts required to build a healthier, greener, and more resilient food industry,” said Rose.

Through Fi Asia Indonesia 2026, the industry is expected to accelerate the adoption of innovation in product formulation, sustainable sourcing, digital technologies, and collaborative food systems. These efforts are anticipated to strengthen consumer trust, support public health objectives, and lay the foundation for a more sustainable food ecosystem in the future. The exhibition will feature more than 10 Country Pavilions, including several new participating countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the European Union. In addition, New Specialty Pavilions will be introduced, covering Beverage Ingredients, Natural Ingredients, and New Business.

Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia was first held in Southeast Asia in Singapore in 1997 and later in Thailand in 2002. Indonesia was selected as a host country for Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia for the first time in 2010. Today, Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia has become a leading annual global exhibition platform, with Indonesia and Thailand alternating as host countries.