Students at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) are spearheading an initiative to combat food waste through a circular economy approach that blends academic research with community engagement.
The program aims to convert surplus food into products that strengthen local food systems, reduce hunger risks, and create economic opportunities.
The project, recently highlighted in the Business and Accounting Education Journal, is anchored in a collaboration model known as ABCGM — involving Academics, Business, Community, Government, and Media. This framework enables waste diversion from landfills, repurposing food into compost, black soldier fly feed, and other value-added resources.
“Collaboration among key stakeholders, from academics to zero waste communities and student conservation cadres, is critical for transforming food waste into economic and environmental value. Innovation, balance, and empowerment are at the heart of this mission,” said Aditya Nanda Yulianto, lead author of the study.
UNNES, recognized as Indonesia’s leading “Conservation University,” has promoted sustainability since 2010. Its student-led approach aligns with the government’s target to reduce waste by 70% by 2025 and is attracting interest from other universities across Southeast Asia.
By combining the principles of Natural Balance, Production, and Profit (3P) with strong community partnerships, the initiative offers a scalable model for addressing food waste in developing nations.
Source: https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/baej/article/view/11296
