As a Food Analyst at the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) in Medan, North Sumatera, Dewi Wati Pasaribu’s main role is to ensure the quality and safety of food products both sourced from local production and import. She and her team at the Food Laboratory ensure that food distributed to the market, specifically in Medan and throughout the provincial area, is safe to be consumed.

Desi is one of the 2016 StuNed Scholarship awardees, pursuing a Master program in Food Science, majoring in Food Safety at Wageningen University and Research (WUR). Before selecting this campus and program, Desi did some research to where she will pursue her study. She found out that some world-reputable universities such as Birmingham (UK) or Cornell (US) offer a similar program. Still, she also fully reckons that the Netherlands is a prominent destination to study agriculture and food.

Working as a government officer, specifically in food safety, Desi is aware that Indonesia’s food system needs to be accelerated.

“We [Indonesia] have so many potentials in food products, yet the standard was diverse. Since joining the inspection team at BPOM, we observed food producers, industries around the province. We found out that many aspects needed to be improved and adjusted toward a qualified and safe food for all.”

Desi also shared an experience she had a couple of years ago, during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono regime, with Budiono as the Vice President. Budiono urged BPOM to inspect the school canteens. The fact was surprising as most of the school canteens were far from ‘healthy’ condition. The causes might be sourced from low literacy on food processing, bad hygiene and sanitation. Her accumulated knowledge from the laboratory enriched with direct field observations had driven Desi to learn more about food safety. The program at WUR offers what she needs as the Food Safety (MSc) program provides both technical aspects on developing food system and a basis on management that allow her to learn deeper about food[risk] assessment and communication.

Wageningen was proven indulging for Desi during her study. She mentions how this ‘small’ city has provided ‘the world’, even if it is small and not as crowded as Amsterdam, but she was mesmerized by how vibrant the city is: getting to know people from around the world and having a chance to study, work, and collaborate with many cultures and disciplines.

A critical reflection she later brought home to Indonesia was about the Netherlands Food Scandal in 2017. It was when the European Union Food Authority found that chicken eggs have been contaminated with ‘fipronil’. In a nutshell, fipronil is an insecticide to destroy poultry mite, but it is not allowed to be consumed by human. Facing this problem, the government took a significant leap by stopping all the farms from production, withdrawing eggs from the market, and destroying all available eggs. Indeed, it triggered a huge loss in the economic, specifically the farmer’s livelihood. It became more problematic as the EU announced the final investigation that the amount of fipronil had no threat to humans.

Despite the mishandling-claim upon the issue, Desi reflects that it would turn away differently if it occurred in Indonesia. However, the EU authority took a brave and significant risk to ensure the safest and best people. On the contrary, the Indonesian government will only withdraw a product from the market if it has proven to be dangerous. To do so means the test must pass a long bureaucratical stages, which will take time, and in the process, the products could potentially threaten public health.

One of the best lessons Desi obtain from her study and experience in the Netherlands are the importance of building an effective mitigation system within the food safety chain. Especially during this pandemic time, Desi also reflects that her experience has impacted not only her career but also her organization and the public. Her laboratory has now received another mandate to be the Covid-sample test center. Thus, they are currently working with a new instrument such as PCR. Luckily, she had learned it during her master’s program to share and teach others as most team members are new to the instrument.

Finally, Desi highlights the importance of Indonesia’s young generation to take part in agriculture as this is the key to feed the growing population. Further, she explains that the agricultural sector is now developed into broad streams, providing business, ideology, and activism potentials that will attract youth. Desi extends a message for the young generation to begin the will with passion and be brave. She found that many Indonesian students are afraid to try applying for scholarship, and this mindset must be changed. She also noticed that the existing bilateral collaboration between Indonesia and the Netherlands has been beneficial. This collaboration needs to be maintained and managed strategically, to be more impactful.