Amid increasingly dense urban environments and rising food prices, developing food security systems in limited spaces has become an important solution. Urban areas such as Surabaya are well suited to this approach. Most residential neighborhoods in Surabaya have very little open land, while the city’s relatively hot climate makes integrated systems—such as growing rice in recycled water gallons alongside fish ponds—particularly valuable. These closed-loop water systems can help create a cooler microclimate around household yards while reducing water consumption by recirculating pond water for plant irrigation.
Beyond challenges related to land and temperature, Surabaya is also vulnerable to fluctuations in food prices because urban communities rely heavily on supplies from outside the city. When distribution is disrupted or prices rise, urban households can be among those most affected. By making use of whatever space is available and applying practical, environmentally friendly approaches, ALIT Surabaya demonstrates how limited urban spaces can be transformed into small, self-sustaining food hubs that continuously produce food to support household nutritional needs.
The ALIT Indonesia office compound currently practices several forms of small-scale food production, including raising laying hens and quail, cultivating tilapia, and growing rice in recycled water gallons. These activities are not merely simulations or passive demonstration projects. They form an active micro food-production ecosystem that generates tangible benefits. Growing rice in used water gallons, for example, has already resulted in a successful harvest in July. This achievement demonstrates that even staple carbohydrate sources can be produced in a household yard without depending entirely on the availability of large conventional rice fields.
The sustainability of this micro-scale food ecosystem is further strengthened through tilapia farming and the raising of laying hens and quail, which provide regular production. The compact tilapia ponds serve as an accessible source of animal protein while also providing nutrient-rich organic water that can be reused to irrigate plants and support livestock water needs. Meanwhile, eggs produced on a daily basis are allocated flexibly according to household and community needs. Some of the eggs and tilapia are prepared directly to support the daily nutritional needs of families and ALIT staff.
These fresh food products are also used as key ingredients in Cooking Class activities—educational cooking sessions that introduce local communities to nutritious, healthy, and affordable meal preparation. Surplus eggs and fish are also sold on a small household scale to nearby residents. This cycle supports affordable access to nutritious food while creating opportunities for families to strengthen their economic self-reliance.
The integration of rice cultivation in recycled water gallons, tilapia farming, and small-scale poultry production challenges the assumption that food security can only be achieved by rural communities or people with access to large areas of land. By making planned and sustainable use of every available space, ALIT Surabaya demonstrates that urban food self-reliance can begin at the smallest level—the household. Such initiatives can help families build greater resilience in the face of climate change, rising living costs, and economic uncertainty.
