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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

National Food Agency Strengthens Food Saving Movement Through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) is strengthening its food-saving movement through multi-stakeholder collaboration to reduce waste and improve access to nutritious food.
  • The initiative addresses the paradox of edible food being discarded while many still lack sufficient food, with Bapanas outlining five key strategies for food rescue.
  • Regional governments are increasingly supporting food-saving efforts, with 17 provinces and 54 regencies/cities having issued directives, and South Sulawesi set to receive a food-saving vehicle in 2026.

Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) is intensifying efforts to combat food waste and ensure better access to edible food through a "Save Food Movement" (GSP). This initiative stems from the stark reality of edible food being discarded daily while many citizens struggle with food insecurity.

Nita Yulianis, Director of Food Security Surveillance at Bapanas, highlighted the problem, stating that "a lot of edible food ends up as garbage, while on the other hand, many people still need access to sufficient and nutritious food." She emphasized this during a coordination meeting in South Sulawesi focused on preventing and reducing food waste.

A lot of edible food ends up as garbage, while on the other hand, many people still need access to sufficient and nutritious food.

— Nita YulianisDirector of Food Security Surveillance at Bapanas, explaining the motivation behind the food-saving movement.

Bapanas is pushing five main strategies: strengthening the concept and framework of food rescue, enhancing policies, implementing rescue actions, fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, and synchronizing central and regional programs. "Handling food waste cannot be done alone. Strong collaboration between government, businesses, communities, and the public is needed so that excess edible food can be optimally utilized," Yulianis asserted.

Handling food waste cannot be done alone. Strong collaboration between government, businesses, communities, and the public is needed so that excess edible food can be optimally utilized.

— Nita YulianisEmphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder cooperation in food rescue efforts.

Regional governments are showing growing commitment. Seventeen provinces and 54 regencies/cities have issued regional head instructions or circulars supporting the movement. South Sulawesi is slated to receive a "food-saving vehicle" in 2026, which Bapanas hopes will expand cooperation networks with the private sector and communities.

Kemal Redindo Syahrul Putra, Secretary of the South Sulawesi Food Security Agency, stressed that successful food rescue requires "pentahelix synergy" involving government, business, academia, community, and media. His agency is partnering with organizations like Baznas, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), and the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) to implement these programs.

Collaboration is the key to food rescue. No single party can work alone.

— Kemal Redindo Syahrul PutraSecretary of the South Sulawesi Food Security Agency, highlighting the importance of synergy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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