The decision was very well-timed for several reasons. First, Indonesia is the second-largest food waster globally, with each individual dumping up to 300 kilograms of food per year. The number is staggering, as it ironically highlights inequality, given that food scarcity remains rampant in poverty pockets across the archipelago.

Second, Bandung is the first city in Indonesia, and hence in Southeast Asia, to join this international city-to-city cooperation framework, allowing it to help raise public awareness about the mounting challenges in urban food management.

Third, the COVID-19 pandemic exhibits the vulnerability of urban food systems to external shocks and supply disruptions, forcing us to revisit the efficacy of our urban food management.

As the third-largest city in Indonesia, Bandung is home to more than 2.5 million people with a total area of 167.45 square kilometers. However, according to the city’s food and agriculture agency, up to 96 percent of the food supply originates from outside the city, making Bandung vulnerable to food price shocks. More sustainability in urban food management is key to protecting the city from future food disruptions.

Bandung has adopted a smart food city approach, which highlights the primary role of community participation and technological advancement in tackling the urban food issue. Various programs are in place, such as Bandung Agri Market (BAM), urban farming, which is locally called Buruan Sae, and the Kangpisman program, which follows the 3R principle of reducing, recycling and reusing.

To support the urban farming program, the city government continues to encourage community movements to use every bit of land to plant food crops, such as vegetables, to meet daily needs. Bandung’s urban agriculture is managed either by a single family or a community, which eventually promotes inclusivity, strengthens social relations, contributes to the local economy and at the same time protects the environment.

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