Central Java Provincial Government Partners with Udinus Students to Reduce Food Waste in Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Semarang (ANTARA) - The Central Java Provincial Government, together with the National Nutrition Agency, has partnered with the academic community of Dian Nuswantoro University (Udinus) in Semarang to minimise food waste from the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme.

Head of the Central Java Food Security Agency, Dyah Lukisari, in Semarang on Monday, explained that the collaboration is being implemented through an audiovisual-based campaign to stop food waste, targeting primary school pupils in 23 schools in Semarang City.

According to her, the campaign is a follow-up to the cooperation between Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi and rectors of universities across Central Java, one of which is the Faculty of Computer Science at Udinus, which has a Communications Studies programme.

Based on evaluations, she said, food waste is often found in the MBG programme, caused by various factors, from taste to students’ dislike of certain menu items, such as vegetables.

From this issue, she continued, Udinus students are involved in preparing campaign materials that promote the importance of B2SA (Diverse, Nutritious, Balanced, and Safe) food intake, while encouraging pupils to finish the food served.

“So we are partnering. We provide the substance, Udinus provides from the communications and IT side. This collaboration is expected to support the implementation of the free nutritious meals programme,” she said.

Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Computer Science at Udinus, Dr Pujiono, appreciated the collaboration and hopes it can enrich students’ field experience.

He mentioned that 230 students will be involved in the stop food waste campaign.

“The delivery of messages can be through animations, videos, or writing, adjusted to the age of primary school pupils,” he said.

In addition to campaigning to stop food waste, the collaboration is also expected to provide input for President Prabowo’s flagship programme.

“The output will become data for us as evaluation material in the SPPG for MBG production, so as not to cause food waste,” said Riyan, who serves as the Provincial Coordinator for Central Java.

Udinus Communications Studies student Widya Wardani admitted to being challenged by the task and plans to create engaging short video content for children.

“This is important because stopping food waste also impacts the environment and human sustainability,” she said.