Nearly 1,500 students from across Indonesia competed in the 2025 Gen Halal Championship held by LPH LPPOM in Bogor, but only the top 45 advanced to the grand final. This enthusiasm highlights the growing interest of the younger generation in halal as knowledge, quality assurance, and lifestyle, as well as evidence that halal issues are now understood across regions and faiths.
LPPOM has once again captured the public’s attention, this time through the Gen Halal Championship program, held for Indonesian high school students. The public’s enthusiasm for this program underscores the younger generation’s growing interest in halal issues. In this year’s event, out of 1,493 registrants, only the top 45 finalists made it through two rigorous selection stages.
The selected finalists represented 13 provinces and 20 cities, and came from 32 schools, with Riau Province contributing the most participants, with 14 participants. They underwent a bootcamp and grand finale session on January 9–11, 2026, at Camp Hulu Cai, Bogor, West Java, before the awards ceremony.
The President Director of LPPOM, Muti Arintawati, emphasized that the Gen Halal Championship is not just a competition, but part of a strategic mission to instill halal literacy from an early age. “We feel this activity is necessary. Because even though Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim majority, halal is already an obligation, halal literacy is not as good as we would like,” she said.
She stated that sufficient knowledge of halal can serve as a counterbalance. “The drive from business actors to maintain the halal status of their products or certify them will not arise without public demand. And the public will not do so if they are not aware of it.”
Muti explained that the public’s lack of knowledge about halal can directly impact the halal industry ecosystem. Education is key to ensuring business owners have a strong drive to maintain the halal status of their products and meet consumer needs. Therefore, she explained, the Gen Halal Championship is designed to target students as essential agents of change in the future.
“We fully recognize that halal literacy must be fostered among the younger generation. Therefore, we are reviving this activity. Hopefully, it can continue in the coming years,” she explained.
The high level of interest from participants this year also demonstrates that halal awareness is no longer the exclusive domain of the Muslim community. Muti added, “The title is Gen Halal Championship, but it turns out that not only Muslim students registered, but non-Muslim students also registered. Some even made it to the grand finals.”
This phenomenon, she continued, proves that halal has become a universal standard aligned with the principles of product safety and quality. “Non-Muslim consumers believe that halal products are good because halal must go hand in hand with thayyib.”
Carrying the theme “Explore, Compete, Inspire,” this event also conveyed a profound educational message. “Explore encourages students to dare to explore halal knowledge more broadly and critically. Compete fosters a competitive spirit. Meanwhile, Inspire encourages participants to become sources of change and inspiration,” said Muti. She hopes that each participant will leave with the values ​​and spirit of the halal lifestyle to share with their schools, families, and communities.
This program received praise from the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI). The Deputy Chairman of MUI, K.H. M. Cholil Nafis, Ph.D., called this activity an essential step toward building a competitive and morally upright generation. “On behalf of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI), I appreciate the 2025 Gen Halal Championship. With halal, we can improve our generation and the world,” he said, emphasizing that halal encompasses food, beverages, sources of life, and lifestyle.
Support also came from the government through Prof. Dr. K.H. M. Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh, M.A., Expert Staff for Youth and Sports Innovation at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Head of the MUI Fatwa Division. He stated that halal issues are a crucial agenda for today’s generation.
“One of the main strategic issues is halal. Once we are able to focus on halal matters, we have already reached half of our religious obligations.” He reminded that the commandment of halal in the Quran is directed at all of humanity, not just Muslims.
As part of the series of events, a talk show themed “Building the Indonesian Halal Ecosystem with a Generation of Integrity” was also held, with Prof. Dr. Ir. Khaswar Syamsu, M.Sc., Head of the LPPOM Expert Staff and IPB University Lecturer; The Deputy Secretary General for Fatwa Affairs of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI), Dr. H. Aminudin Yakub, MA.; Influencer, Sherly Annavita S.Sos., M.SIPh. This discussion reinforced the idea that developing a national halal ecosystem requires the active participation of a visionary and integrated young generation.
With the success of attracting nearly 1,500 registrants and selecting 45 top finalists, the Gen Halal Championship reaffirmed its position as one of the largest student halal literacy movements in Indonesia. LPPOM hopes this activity will continue to be a catalyst, fostering a halal-conscious generation capable of contributing to strengthening the country’s halal industry today and in the future. (***)
