Leaders in Bali are working to raise awareness of the importance of healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Ibu Putri Suastini Koster, the wife of the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, is calling on the Balinese people to return to the traditional values of food and food production.
This shift towards more organic food production on the island will have a surprisingly positive impact on tourists as well as local communities.
Mrs. Koster wants to see a greater focus on the production of organic food in Bali; this, she says, is just one way to help keep traditional cultural values and farming practices alive.
There is an ongoing dialogue in Bali about the need for sustainable and culture-based tourism.
The food and beverage industry is so inherently connected to agriculture and tourism that any change in the agriculture sector in Bali will directly impact tourists.
Speaking on a panel alongside food sector leaders, Mrs. Koster shared her passion for a return to organic food production.
She said, “Our ancestors have long ago passed down an integrated agricultural system with its noble values. So let’s return to agriculture which is our identity”.
@vhitasun 📍Br Mancingan Rice Terrace Ubud Bali Like, Follow, and share for support . 📷 by @TEDDY CONG #ubud #bali #vhitasun #melali #vacation #holiday #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #indonesia #wonderful #wonderfulindonesia @Wonderful Indonesia ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim
Professor Supartha Utama, from the Bali Development Working Group for Food, Clothing, and Shelter, echoed Mrs. Koster’s calls for an organic future for all.
Prof. Utsama said, “Overseas people are very concerned about the food they eat, and organic food has more value for them. So if we sell our organic food ingredients with their extrinsic values such as culture, then we can sell our products even higher.”
He noted that organic farming practices, over time, have a high yield than what has become conventional, high-input farming.
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So, what benefits would more organic farming, or organic farming as standard, mean for tourists in Bali?
Higher Quality Food – Organically grown foods have shown to have increased nutrient density, contain fewer heat metals, and some say even taste better.
Cleaner Water Sources – With less pesticide runoff from agricultural land entering Bali’s waterways, the water quality will begin to improve too. This, alongside the teams who are working to clean Bali’s rivers, will have a huge impact on water quality.
Protected Agricultural Landscapes – If Bali’s farmers can earn more money from their produce, there is a greater incentive to continue to protect and invest in preserving the traditional agricultural landscapes; this includes the coffee plantations and the famous rice terraces.
Bali Is Heaven For Foodies
Bali is heaven on earth for foodies. Not only does the island have a unique culinary heritage of its own, but Bali is also part of the Indonesian archipelago, which is one of the most rich and diverse culinary cultures in the world.
Then consider that Bali continues to attract tourists from all over the world, and with tourism comes hospitality and culinary innovation.
The Island of the Gods has so much to offer as a destination for food and culture, and a shift towards more organic food production will bring huge benefits to farmers, farming communities, and tourists visiting the island.
Nusa Dua – The Finest Of Fine Dining
The island’s most lavish and luxurious resort, Nusa Dua, is home to the finest of fine dining experiences.
From The Koral Restaurant at Apurva Kempinski to Kayuputih at St Regis, if you have a penchant for culinary flair and the best of the best dining experiences, you best get making table reservations in Nusa Dua.
Seminyak – Cocktail Central
Cocktail lovers should make a B-line for Seminyak. As the home of the island’s most popular nightlife scene, there is so much to discover on the cocktail menus of Seminyak.
In fact, the resort is home to one of Indonesia’s best mixologists. Dimas Rio Gaku from The Social Seminyak recently came first place in the Bali round of the prestigious H-Day Mixology Competition 2023.
Ubud – Plant-Based Paradise
Whether a pure-bred vegan or a proud omnivore, the food scene in Ubud is the destination of choice for jet-setting epicureans.
The culinary culture in Ubud has a strong focus on sustainability, health, and wellness.
Restaurants like Room4Desert, Meru, Indus, Zest, and Sayuri’s Healing Foods go to great lengths to bring earthy-friendly foods to the table.
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Shorty
Tuesday 27th of June 2023
Ideologically great. Practicality zero. Bali struggles to be food self sufficient.
Locals. If it's readily available, affordable and nutritious...great.
Tourists. Hardly any buy and prepare their own food. Yes there's some restaurants that play the organic card but they're limited. Most tourists don't give a bugger. It won't put one more bum on a plane seat.
Expats? Check out the outlets and patronage of places selling supposedly organic food. Very few.
Producers. There's no evidence at all that traditional methods increase yield, frequency, quality, price and can meet demand.
For me, Bu Koster's call is yet another effort to boost her husband's reelection. He's successfully taken control and gained local support for his 'Balinesing' proposals.
That most negatively commenting here are expats means nothing. We don't vote.
indonesian
Tuesday 27th of June 2023
Organic farming isn't as easy as it sounds, especially in a huge-scale farm. Traditionally, it was easier as demands were smaller and there were more farmers back then. As demands grow and younger generations are leaving the industry, farmers need quick fixes to ease the workload and increase output. Widespread education, aggressive marketing and recruitment of the younger generations are urgently needed for the organic farming development in the island. Many locals as well as foreigners staying in Bali would be keen to get involved too if they know how. If Bali could prove successful in organic farming island-wide, no doubt, it would be an excellent selling point for our tourism industry.
Firechef
Wednesday 28th of June 2023
@indonesian, Well said, but the problem is that the younger Balinese generation does not want to get into farming, easier to go to the city and get a softer job or rip tourists off. Also, they are starting to go to college and get an education. My family and I so far have purchased a Farm, Rice Field and Coffee plantation for practically nothing just to send the owners kids to college. They still work the fields, but under our supervision and they receive half of the income. We purchase all of the needed materials, they supply the labor. We also pay the taxes. Fair enough? We think so.
Firechef
Tuesday 27th of June 2023
Our farm north of Ubud has always been organic and will continue to be so. Also, all of our fruits and vegetables are Heirloom seeded, no need to buy new seeds for every planting.
Rod Wilkinson
Tuesday 27th of June 2023
With respect do the Koster live in Bali? The most picturesque farming areas have the look of a theme park,hideous in my opinion,
Wayan Bo
Monday 26th of June 2023
Unfortunately so many rice fields are concreted over with ugly buildings in between.