BeritaBali reports on a brilliantly innovative program that recycles enormous amounts of surplus food from Indonesian hotels that is still edible and might otherwise end up in landfills, and delivers it to Indonesian communities in need.
SOS Indonesia (Yayasan Derma Atas Pangan) is a Bali and Jakarta-based nonprofit organization focused on reducing food waste and hunger. Operating primarily in high-tourism & manufacturing areas, SOS collects surplus food from hotels, supermarkets, bakeries, farms, suppliers, retail outlets, catering operations, and manufacturers. Using cooling trucks and motorcycles to navigate the busy streets of Jakarta and Bali, SOS efficiently delivers this valuable, nutritious food to those in need.
Vivian Ikdayah, Country Manager of Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Indonesia, emphasized the importance of distributing high-quality surplus food to ensure it is optimally utilized by vulnerable communities.
”Because all food supplies come via donations, the organization’s operational costs are focused on human resources and a refrigerated logistics system. This efficient approach allows SOS to be highly efficient in distributing single meals, providing a significant impact for both corporate and individual donors,” Ikdayah explained on Friday, 19 June 2026, in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Vivian revealed that between 2017 and December 2025, SOS Indonesia successfully saved and recycled 1,900 tons of surplus food that would otherwise have become waste.
”This effort has a direct impact on empowering vulnerable communities by distributing 8 million portions of nutritious food, a concrete step towards achieving the official SDG 2 – Zero Hunger Program,” she said.
Detailing the SOS operation in Indonesia, Vivian explained that the program’s success is due to the support of more than 200 Indonesian partners from the hospitality, retail, and manufacturing sectors.
In addition to helping vulnerable communities access nutritious food, this surplus food rescue program also helps reduce deleterious environmental impact. This commitment to responsible consumption and production has prevented approximately 4.8 million kilograms of CO2-equivalent emissions from food waste in landfills.
”This collective movement presents a robust blueprint for locally-driven climate action while simultaneously realizing food equity for communities. The main event series features inspiring panel discussions, sessions sharing best practices and real-world impacts, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen cross-sector partnerships,” she explained.
Vivian added that every day, SOS Indonesia’s professional team uses refrigerated technology to ensure rescued food is distributed safely and promptly to vulnerable communities in Bali and the Greater Jakarta area.
Related Links
Scholars of Sustenance Website
Hard Rock Hotel Donates a Food Truck to SOS
Michelin Star Meals for Bali’s Needy
Scholars of Sustenance on Facebook
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