The Agricultural Technology Faculty (FATETA) of the Bogor Agriculture University (IPB) in Indonesia's West Java province has developed a new staple food similar to rice in a bid to support food diversification programs, the Jakarta Post reported here on Monday.

"Our team at the FATETA of IPB has managed to create food similar to rice, which was not made from paddy, but it can be cooked just like regular rice," the Faculty Dean Sam Herodian said.

The new staple food can be a mix of many sources of carbohydrates, such as corn, tubers and buckwheat, which are widely available.

Herodian said that it would be easy for Indonesian people who depend on rice as their staple food to accept the new modified food.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet