Jakarta, INTI - Basuki Rachmat, an associate researcher at Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN), introduced innovative solutions for converting waste generated from Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) into energy and economically valuable products in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Basuki explained that food waste produced through the MBG program can be transformed into energy using a range of modern processing technologies.
Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and hydrothermal carbonization can convert organic waste into valuable outputs including biogas, biochar, and electricity.
According to Basuki, implementing these technologies could help reduce the growing volume of food waste in Indonesia.
He added that proper waste management practices also have the potential to lower emissions while improving resource efficiency.
Circular Economy and Simple Waste Solutions
In addition to advanced technologies, Basuki emphasized that simpler methods such as composting, bioactivators, and the use of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae remain highly relevant for small-scale applications.
These approaches can transform organic waste into livestock feed and organic fertilizer beneficial for the agricultural sector.
Basuki stressed that waste processing methods should be selected based on operational scale, waste characteristics, and available resource capacity.
He also highlighted the importance of applying the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover to minimize waste generation while maximizing resource utilization.
According to him, effective food waste management can deliver economic benefits while simultaneously reducing environmental and social burdens.
He revealed that Indonesia generates between 23 million and 48 million tons of food waste annually, with the majority originating from households and creating broad impacts across multiple sectors.
Basuki concluded that through a circular economy approach, food waste can be transformed into high-value resources when managed properly.
Conclusion
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) emphasized that food waste management can become a strategic opportunity to support renewable energy development and the circular economy. Through the application of both advanced and simple waste-processing technologies, organic waste from programs such as MBG can be transformed into valuable resources that help reduce environmental impact while creating economic benefits for society.
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