Durian. Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister urges the public to cut down on food waste as a way to improve food security, both on regional and national level.
Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said by massively reducing of the amount of food waste, Indonesia can enjoy both the environmental and economic benefits.
“Reducing food waste is a very simple act, yet the impact is huge. According to Bappenas [the National Development Planning Agency], food waste results in 213 trillion to 551 trillion rupiah ($15.1 billion to 39.1 billion) loss annually,” Limpo said in a statement on Oct.16.
He added that household should be able to efficiently plan their meals so that no food is wasted. Moreover, by doing so, public in general can partake in improving food security.
“Farmers who work daily to provide us food are heroes. However, we can also support them in strengthening our food security,” the Minister stated.
In addition to reducing food waste, Limpo said public should consume healthy, local, and seasonal foods. He said the government continues to actively encourage food diversification and support local governments to develop their local food potential.
Lastly, the government also supports food security at the smallest level by recommending public to start farming at home.
“We expect every household to optimize their resources, including gardens, to provide food for families,” Limpo concluded.
