Indonesia's Food Waste Is High, Gastronomi Continues With Mindful Eating It Is Expected To Overcome It

JAKARTA - Food waste is something that must be addressed because it can disturb the environment and health.

According to a FAO report in 2023, more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually globally.

This amount is equivalent to a third of the world's food production. Indonesia itself is known to be the second largest food waste contributor in Asia, so it must be addressed immediately.

"Indonesia is the second largest food waste contributor in Asia. So it is important for the government and the community to take concrete steps to reduce food waste," said the Director of Food Alertness from the National Food Agency, Nita Yulianis, during the commemoration of Sustainable Gastronomi Day in South Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

One way to overcome this is to further echo sustainable gastronomi, to encourage changes in consumption culture in Indonesia. This step is also in line with the sustainable vision of national food.

A sustainable gastronomi means a cooking that takes into account the origin of the ingredients, how the food is grown, and how the food is distributed until it is served.

Ironi with a lot of wasted food waste, and food waste contributes 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That's why Indonesian Gastronomy Community (IGC) as a communicator started a movement to educate and control the reduction of food residue from the household level," said Secretary General of the IGC, Dr. Ray Wagia Basrowi.

To further implement sustainable gastronomi in order to prevent the accumulation of food waste, there are several actions that can be done by the community and industry players, including the following.

1. Starting from the plate itself, mindful eating, take enough and spend it completely. 2. Support restaurants and gastronomi actors who apply the principle of zero food waste. 3. Educate and change your diet to healthy and sustainable food.

Food is not only enjoyed, but also appreciated. Food waste control is not a matter of reducing taste, but also adds meaning," concluded Doctor Ray.