Bali's Regional Action Plan: Strategic Approaches to Combat Food Loss and Waste
Denpasar, Indonesia - Bali, as one of PAGE’s Indonesia pilot provinces, has taken significant steps to address the pressing issue of food loss and waste through a well-structured Regional Action Plan (RAD). The recent Focus Group Discussion (FGD), held on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Mercure Resort Sanur, Bali, served as a platform to fine-tune strategies and action plans, bringing together stakeholders from government, academia, industry, civil society, and development partners.
The data presented at the FGD was comprehensive. In 2021, Bali generated 877,224 tons of food loss and waste (FLW), equating to 201.08 kg per capita annually. This staggering figure underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies across the entire food supply chain, from production to consumption.
Key strategies discussed include strengthening regulatory frameworks, optimizing funding, enhancing capacity building, improving infrastructure, and integrating data systems. The regulatory framework needs reinforcement to ensure better law enforcement and the implementation of technical guidelines and SOPs.
I Made Dwi Arbani, Head of Waste Management Division from the regional environmental and forestry agency of Bali province stressed, "Law enforcement is critical. We need clear and robust regulations to protect food donors and recovery organizations." This statement highlights the necessity for national legal support, particularly to safeguard hotels and NGOs involved in food recovery initiatives.
Optimizing funding is another crucial strategy. Simplifying the licensing process for compost distribution and extending agricultural insurance beyond rice to horticulture are vital steps. Additionally, addressing funding gaps through innovative financing mechanisms and potential donor agencies was discussed.
Dewa Ketut Subawa, Head of Post-Harvest, Processing and Agricultural Product Marketing Division from the food and agriculture agency of Bali province mentioned, "We must explore alternative funding sources to support our initiatives, especially given the limited provincial budget for agricultural machinery and infrastructure." This approach includes evaluating existing programs in the SIPD (Regional Development Information System) to allocate resources effectively.
Capacity building emerged as a crucial component, focusing on training staff and increasing public awareness. The inclusion of local food products in waste management practices is seen as beneficial. "Integrating local food products can enhance our efforts significantly," Jarot Indarto as The Director of Food and Agriculture Bappenas noted, indicating the potential for community-based solutions to complement formal strategies.
Improving supporting facilities is also essential. The emphasis is not only on increasing the number of facilities but ensuring their sustainable functionality. The establishment of Food Recovery Organizations (FROs) across all regions, beyond Denpasar and South Badung, was deemed necessary to cover the entire province effectively.
Lastly, the integration of data systems for better monitoring and evaluation of FLW management was discussed. This includes prioritizing high-loss commodities and mapping their central production areas. Digitalization of data collection processes and continuous human resource development are critical for maintaining accurate and actionable data. "A coordinated data system is vital for tracking progress and identifying areas needing intervention," stated Jarot Indarto, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach.
The FGD underscored the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to tackle FLW in Bali. By addressing regulatory, financial, capacity-building, and infrastructural challenges, Bali aims to achieve its sustainability goals and significantly reduce food loss and waste.