Enhancing Community Capacity Through Local Food Innovation: Training in Corn Noodle and Tofu Ice Cream Production for Economic Independence in Kalianyar Village

Kalianyar Village is one of the villages in Bondowoso Regency, located in the southern part, specifically in Tamanan Subdistrict. The village covers an area of 220.230 hectares, featuring beautiful natural landscapes and a strategic location. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2024, the majority of Kalianyar Village's population still relies on the agricultural sector for their livelihood. This indicates that most of the community works as farmers, with the main commodities being rice and corn. In addition to the agricultural sector, various industrial and SME businesses have developed in Kalianyar Village, one of which is tofu production, which is well-known among the community. However, the abundance of local potential has led to new challenges, namely the lack of optimal utilization of corn and tofu processing. Therefore, the author innovated corn noodles developed as a substitute for wheat flour, which is still largely imported, with the advantage of high nutritional content and safety for those with gluten allergies. Meanwhile, tofu ice cream is a healthy, nutritious, and appealing tofu-based product for consumers, while also strengthening the competitiveness of local SMEs. This research employed a descriptive quantitative method using a questionnaire distributed to the community, yielding quantitative results and descriptions aligned with the established rubric. The evaluation of training outcomes demonstrated improvements in skills, creativity, and economic independence among the community, leading to new business opportunities and enhanced family well-being. The community has become more independent in managing local food ingredients, resulting in positive market reception for corn noodles and tofu ice cream, which are now beginning to penetrate broader markets. Challenges such as controlling noodle shape and production equipment limitations are areas for improvement in future training. Overall, this local food innovation has a positive long-term impact on the environment and economy of Kalianyar Village.