La Ode champions food security through local wisdom, empowering youth and preserving Dayak heritage in Sintang
In Sintang, Indonesia, food is more than survival. It is a bond between people, culture, and nature. This idea drives the ExploNation program, a collaboration by Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari (LTKL) and local youth centers, which promotes the connection between food, identity, and sustainability.
Chef La Ode, known from MasterChef Indonesia Season 8, joined the initiative to explore West Kalimantan’s food heritage. His journey to Rimba Gupung revealed how indigenous knowledge sustains both people and the forest. He learned how the Dayak Desa tribe preserves food sources through traditional methods that respect nature’s cycles.
During his stay at Rumah Betang Ensaid Panjang, a longhouse shared by 33 families, La Ode joined villagers in preparing ikan pekasam and mashed sweet potato leaves. He said, “Local food is not just nourishment. It is a cultural identity that teaches respect for nature and unity in the community.”
The program also empowers youth. Through a “Food Content Taking and Storytelling” workshop, La Ode trained 14 young participants from Sintang, Sanggau, and Kapuas Hulu to tell stories about their culture and food. This initiative builds pride and supports West Kalimantan’s creative economy.
Kurniawan of the Sintang Regional Development Planning Agency noted that local food is now a driver of economic growth and tourism. At the 2025 Sintang Creative Economy and Culinary Exhibition, 199 local businesses earned over Rp2 billion in a week.
For La Ode, preserving nature and culture are one. “Restoring the environment means restoring our roots,” he said. “Nature is not for exploitation, but for care.”
Through ExploNation, local food traditions are being documented, shared, and celebrated. Each recipe strengthens the link between food security and cultural wisdom, proving that the path to sustainability begins in the kitchen.
