Changing climate, changing plates: a 13-year national study of staple food consumption in Indonesia

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the association between climate change and food consumption. Sources of data were from Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (rainfall, temperature) and Statistics Indonesia (rice, maize, cassava, sweet potato). Linear regression was employed showing 1°C increase in temperature was associated with an increase in maize consumption (R² = 0.832; 95%CI = 0.018–0.062; p =.002). No significant associations were found between climate variables and rice, cassava, sweet potato consumption. These results indicate that rising temperatures are statistically associated with shifts toward greater maize consumption. Hence, highlights maize as a climate-resilient non-rice staple that support food security and nutritional adequacy in this ongoing climate change.