Research Dissemination and Talkshow at the 2026 Pasar Kreasi Pangan Festival

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Alfian Muhammad Nur, Research Coordinator at Garda Pangan, once again presented the findings of the Baseline Food Waste Assessment in Labuan Bajo at the Pasar Kreasi Pangan Festival.

Organized by Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) through its Urban Future program, the event featured a presentation of the research findings, a question-and-answer session, and a talkshow bringing together representatives from government, businesses, associations, NGOs, and youth communities in Labuan Bajo.

Figure 1. Dissemination of findings from the baseline assessment of food surplus and food waste in Labuan Bajo. (Photo: Grace Vanessa Lasmana)

One of the key findings highlighted during the event was the significant contribution of non-household sectors, which accounted for 51.5% of food waste generation. This figure highlights the substantial influence of the tourism sector and traditional markets, which alone contributed 13.8% of the total food waste generated.

Despite there being only two main traditional markets in Labuan Bajo, the high volume of discarded food makes markets the second-largest contributing sector. This is particularly significant because much of the food sold in these markets is transported from outside Labuan Bajo, making it more vulnerable to spoilage due to weather conditions and challenges in distribution infrastructure.

Another notable finding was that 58.9% of food waste was utilized as livestock feed, reflecting a long-standing local practice within the community. However, 25.4% of food waste still ended up in landfills, while 8.7% was disposed of into the sea, including by some coastal households and tourism vessels. These findings indicate that food waste management practices in Labuan Bajo still require further attention and improvement.

Figure 2. Talk show session with representatives from the Environmental Agency (DLH), Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture Agency (Disbudpar), Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of West Manggarai. (Photo: Lidia Prima Sidabutar)

The talkshow, moderated by Uli Pangabean from WRI Indonesia, featured four discussants: Vinsensius Gande, S.Pd., M.Hum., Head of the Environmental and Land Agency; Stefanus Jemsifori, STP, Head of the Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture Agency of West Manggarai Regency; Yuyun Felisia, Head of Economic and Social Affairs at the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) of West Manggarai; and Yuvent, representing the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) from Ayana Hotel.

The speakers responded to the research findings by sharing their perspectives on food waste issues in Labuan Bajo, ongoing initiatives, and potential follow-up actions based on the research.

The Environmental and Land Agency emphasized source reduction, waste separation, and decentralized waste processing. Bappeda encouraged the integration of food waste management into development planning. The Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture Agency highlighted waste management as an integral part of sustainable tourism, while PHRI emphasized food waste reduction as a business efficiency strategy that requires clear SOPs, adequate facilities, and appropriate incentives.

The enthusiasm of participants demonstrated that food waste can serve as a common ground for collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The event also provided a platform for community voices to be brought into dialogue with government, while connecting local waste management initiatives, NGO partners, students, and other stakeholders with the potential to drive meaningful change.

The research findings are expected to go beyond scientific publication and serve as a foundation for developing policies, strengthening collaboration, and taking concrete action to prevent and reduce food waste in Labuan Bajo.

To explore the research findings in greater detail, please refer to the full research publication, click here!