Little Dream for a Big Future; Equal Food Distribution

My passion of gastronomy and nutrition give me powerful inspiration and desire to shape the evolving relationship between society and food industry. If given such opportunity, I would establish an organization that helps to market sustainable food cycle, offer consultancy for businesses, and educate people about diet and nutrition, especially in Indonesia. Doing so, however, requires taking a careful step that requires untangling the complexity of food problem, such as systems of production, distribution, purchasing and marketing, protection and consumption of local food. It requires much attention from the society and corporation between the businesses and government sector.

I have seen myself on how Indonesia desperately in need of help to fix their fundamental problem, which is food production and poverty. As I grew up in a family that involves mostly in the agriculture industry, I realized that the whole system of producing food is not only the matter of supply and demand. However, also the question of how a country could be self-sufficient to produce the quantity required and sustain a proper distribution of food. The country produces so many agricultural products but still most of the country’s population is struggling to access to adequate food supply and better healthcare. It is because even though Indonesia has an enormous potential to produce its food resources and be self-sufficient regarding agriculture. Most of the country’s resources are still largely dependent on the import of farming products while most of the wealthy individuals prefer to consume imported goods. Because of this, a lot of the local producers are abandoned, and higher prices have led to an increase in poverty thus worsening the standard of living of the low-income classes. Apparently, our society needs to be educated.

Meanwhile, companies in the food industry can start making big changes. There is a way that businesses could take to produce a more efficiently using local resources. Therefore, it can build the surrounding society and in favor to the domestic food producers.

By doing proper social marketing to encourage people or creating awareness, the market can create demand and power for companies to increase their value creation of social activities (CSR). During my study period in Jakarta, I joined an NGO in Jakarta as a teaching team. I feel the need of more contribution of education to society is crucial in Indonesia, especially for kids who do not have access to education. Together with the other teaching team, we conducted a basic reading and math class on a weekly basis. These experiences allow me to grow within the society, and it made me realize how important it is for us to share our knowledge to those in need even in a very simple way.

Sharing knowledge could open new windows of ideas for others. They would finally have the information about what is going on in Indonesia or other developing countries. It will give them impact on how they will think in the future if the want to establish a business in similar geographic areas, or similar areas of interest. Indonesia as a developing country still has so many fields to explore, and the market is still growing. We are the one that someday will change the world or society, bring impact and changes to our future. It could be in Indonesia or anywhere else in the world. It will certainly be one of the critical aspects to remember while doing business in developing countries. Because I believe, we can make changes.

Education will help us to prepare, provide us the proper tools, and resources to solve the social and economic problems through sustainable business strategy. Market forces guide the world; therefore, if I want to make an impact and a difference in the world, I should understand fundamentals of business.

Some of my peers may later pursue a career in the corporate world. They could be an executive responsible the corporate communications, marketing, public relations or entrepreneurs. Alternatively, may also be doing all these functions in media — newspaper, radio or television. By sharing these thoughts, there is hope that they would apply and take into account these aspects to practice marketing for suitability. Not only for making a profit for the companies but for shaping a better society. There’s a strong connection between entrepreneurship and giving. The challenge is to make the socially responsible efforts a winning proposition for the nonprofit group you support, the community, and your business.