Indonesia urges retailers to boost food rescue efforts

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) has called on the retail sector to strengthen innovation and collaboration in food rescue initiatives to expand the redistribution of edible surplus food and support a more sustainable food system.

Director of Food Vigilance at Bapanas Nita Yulianis said the involvement of retailers is a key component in building a sustainable food rescue ecosystem through cooperation among multiple stakeholders.

“Retailers play an important role in building a sustainable food rescue ecosystem,” Nita said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to Nita, the retail sector holds a strategic position in expanding the redistribution of food that remains safe and suitable for consumption through partnerships with food banks and food rescue organizations.

She made the remarks during a business forum that brought together government officials, businesses, and community groups to strengthen collaboration on managing food surplus and food waste in the retail sector.

The forum, titled “Sustainable Retail Transformation: Strengthening Innovation and Collaboration on the Risks and Opportunities of Food Waste Management in the Retail Sector,” was seen as an important step toward enhancing Indonesia’s food security.

Nita said retailers serve as a vital link between producers and consumers, making them key actors in developing a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable food system.

The government continues to encourage stronger partnerships, public education campaigns, and more structured data collection and reporting on food rescue activities as part of efforts to reduce food waste nationwide.

“In addition, retailers can serve as an educational channel to encourage consumers to manage food more responsibly and reduce food waste,” she said.

According to Nita, private-sector participation in food rescue initiatives has shown an increasingly positive trend.

Data from Bapanas’ Stop Food Waste Platform as of June 18, 2026, showed that the retail sector accounted for 8.8 percent of all registered food rescue partners. The figure reflects growing awareness among businesses of the importance of food rescue efforts.

Bapanas said broader collaboration with food banks and food rescue organizations could significantly increase the benefits of food redistribution for communities in need.

Nita also encouraged the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) to strengthen the involvement of its members in food rescue programs, noting that contributions from the retail sector can enhance national food security while supporting sustainable development goals.

Meanwhile, Aprindo Executive Director Dasep Suryanto said reducing food waste should be an integral part of corporate business strategy and implemented consistently through measurable actions.

According to Dasep, retailers can take three key steps: building strong corporate commitment, measuring and setting food waste reduction targets, and implementing concrete and sustainable action plans.

“Food waste reduction can begin with strong corporate commitment, followed by clear measurement and realized through sustainable, tangible actions,” he said.

Aprindo Vice Chairman for ESG and Retail Transformation, Yuvlinda Susanta, added that food rescue has become an important component of sustainable business strategies.

Such efforts, she said, can generate economic, social, and environmental benefits while helping retailers prepare for future regulatory developments.

Closer collaboration among government, retailers, food banks, community organizations, academics, and the media is expected to expand the redistribution of edible food to those in need. In addition to reducing food waste, these efforts are expected to strengthen food security and support a more sustainable food system.

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Translator: Harianto, Azis Kurmala

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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