Breaking the Chain of Food Waste Early: Empowering Schools as Agents of Change
KMD, 2026Downloaded 0 times, Read 25 times
Description
SEAMEO BIOTROP’s 2025 survey of educational institutions shows that schools have not yet implemented food waste education and management effectively or efficiently. To address these gaps, SEAMEO BIOTROP identifies several alternative solutions: (a) developing pilot school models, (b) replication and consolidation in other provinces and districts, and (c) integration into national policies.
Considering effectiveness, efficiency, optimal use of human resources, policy acceptance, and ongoing collaboration with various schools in Indonesia, SEAMEO BIOTROP proposes a short-term recommendation: the development of a Pilot School Model through the program Breaking the Chain of Food Waste Early by Empowering Schools as Agents of Change. This recommendation is operationalized through seven key actions: (1) Developing schoolbased food waste prevention and management policies; (2) Increasing the capacity of education actors in food waste prevention and management; (3) Integrating food waste topics into teaching and learning activities; (4) Involving students in monitoring and reflecting on food consumption; (5) Building partnerships to support school initiatives; (6) Developing and testing a replicable food-friendly school model; and (7) Establishing an educationsector reporting and evaluation system for food waste reduction.