According to data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry's National Waste Management Information System in 2020, food waste accounted for 40 percent of the total waste generated by people in 199 regencies and cities.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
We are culturally taught not to waste food. However, in reality, Indonesia is among the largest food waste producing countries.
According to a survey conducted by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation, the index of Indonesia's food loss and waste is still in the low category. Indonesia is in the top three worst countries, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry's National Waste Management Information System in 2020, food waste accounted for 40 percent of the total waste generated by people in 199 regencies and cities. A study conducted by Kompas showed that Indonesians waste food worth Rp 2.1 million (US$150) per person per year. The total value of food waste in Indonesia is Rp 330 trillion per year.
Yet at the same time, Indonesia is listed as a country with a moderate level of hunger in the world. Based on data from the Global Hunger Index 2021, Indonesia ranks 73rd out of 116 countries. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is in a better position than Timor Leste (108) and Laos (78).
At the consumer level, improper storage, purchasing and over-serving lead to a large amount of food waste.
The high food loss is caused by various problems both upstream to downstream. At the producer level, a large amount of agricultural products are damaged and wasted because they cannot be sold due to poor post-harvest handling, transportation difficulties and falling prices. Poor packaging, lack of cooling facilities, poor marketing and distribution as well as oversupply also cause food to spoil. At the consumer level, improper storage, purchasing and over-serving lead to a large amount of food waste.
Despite the hunger problem in Indonesia, a lot of food is wasted and piles up in landfills. Organic waste produces methane and carbon dioxide. The gas has the potential to damage the ozone layer in the atmosphere and increase the earth's temperature. Food wasted is also a huge loss as the use of land and water for agriculture, fuel and time and energy for food distribution is wasted.
It is time for the government and the community to work together to control food waste. The government needs to create, assist or ensure good post-harvest handling, as well as marketing and proper transportation facilities for food distribution. The government also needs to maintain price stability and provide sanctions and incentives in order to reduce food waste at the industrial, distribution and consumer levels.
Buy and consume food as needed and store it properly so that it will not be damaged and wasted.
People as consumers need to start planning better in terms of food supplies. Buy and consume food as needed and store it properly so that it will not be damaged and wasted.
The thrifty, careful and modest attitude, as taught by our grandparents and contained in the Dasadarma Pramuka (Boy Scout oath) should be revived again. The aim is not only to keep the earth habitable, but also to overcome the hunger and malnutrition that many Indonesians suffer from.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)