Empowering Urban Communities: Cage-Free Omega Egg Production for Food Security and Social Impact in Indonesia

Poverty, food insecurity, and stunting remain significant problems in several regions in Indonesia, not only in rural areas but also in urban areas. The demand for animal protein to prevent stunting through egg products in Indonesia is relatively high, but the nutritional quality (especially omega-3 fatty acid content) of conventional eggs remains relatively low. The trend toward a healthy lifestyle in urban areas is driving demand for functional foods, including omega eggs, creating an opportunity for the development of omega eggs in urban areas. The cage-free system concept is suitable for developing omega eggs on a household scale in urban areas. Interventions through various innovative food programs that support food security and improve the welfare of vulnerable communities are needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Household empowerment through omega egg production can be achieved by providing functional feed enriched with grains, fish oil, and maggot oil. The integration of cages with gardens, vegetable gardens, or hydroponic systems aligns with the trend of environmentally friendly free-range chicken farming. It offers the potential to become an alternative solution to address this issue. This chapter explores the idea of ​​empowering households through omega-3 chicken egg production to address stunting and improve the welfare of vulnerable urban communities. Literature review was used as a method in this study. This chapter provides an overview of stunting in Indonesia, explores the potential for developing omega-3 eggs as a cost-effective solution to address stunting and food insecurity, and discusses a household empowerment model, as well as potential challenges.