Food Bank Optimization Program to Reduce Food Waste to Improve Food Security and Household Nutritional Status as an Effort to Support Economic Stability

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the contribution of food banks in reducing food waste , improving household food security and nutritional status, and their role in supporting economic stability based on food and energy efficiency. By examining four interrelated dimensions: food waste reduction, food access, nutritional improvement, and household economic resilience, this study provides an integrated overview of the strategic role of food banks. This study employed the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, analyzing 25 scientific articles published between 2014 and 2024 from international databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The PRISMA protocol was applied in the literature selection process, and data were evaluated through thematic and descriptive categorization. This study shows that food banks can reduce food waste by up to 30%, increase food access and household dietary diversity, improve the nutritional status of mothers and children, and reduce household food expenditure by 15–20%. Furthermore, food banks play a role in increasing social and economic resilience, particularly during times of crisis and inflation, by serving as a safety net and a means of community empowerment. This research provides empirical evidence that food banks can be integrated into national food security and poverty alleviation strategies. For Indonesia, developing community-based food banks is a practical solution to reduce food waste, improve public health, and strengthen household economic stability. Academically, this study offers a holistic framework for assessing multidimensional, sustainability-based food systems.