Has Indonesia’s food system made healthy food expensive and inaccessible to half its people?
New podcast episode with Koalisi Sistem Pangan Lestari is now on YouTube
Dear readers,
Is it true that healthy food in Indonesia is more expensive compared to unhealthy ones, like, say, ultra-processed food? If you go to a local supermarket and look at the price tags, it is sadly true. But do you know that when you buy and consume unhealthy food, there is a price that you pay that is not written on your receipt?
In the latest episode of The Reformist Podcast, our hosts Afu Utami and Rayestu spoke with Romauli Panggabean, an environmental economist from WRI Indonesia and the Knowledge Generation Lead of Koalisi Sistem Pangan Lestari (KSPL). They discussed how there have been ‘hidden costs’ behind our food system – something we all pay with our health, the environment, and the welfare of those working along the supply chain that puts food on our table.
KSPL and WRI’s study showed that the problems in our food system have cost all of us up to 622.3 billion US dollars (that’s about 45.4% of our GDP!). These hidden costs have made around 140 million Indonesians (about half our population) unable to access healthy food, because the system has made it seem more expensive.
Listen to this episode for more interesting findings – there could be many things that you’ve been taking for granted that surprised you.
Enjoy the episode!
Kind regards,
The Reformist Desk