Invited by FAO to Bangkok, Aruna Talked Efforts for Supply Chain Effectiveness and Product Traceability
Bangkok, Thailand – At the end of September 2023, Aruna was invited to be a speaker at one of the annual agendas of a food and agriculture organization formed by the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, the agenda carrying the big topic of “Digital Agriculture Solutions Forum (DASF) 2023 for Asia and the Pacific” had been held regularly for the past four years. Attended by many digital companies in Asia that focused on food and technology issues, Aruna, represented by Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, was one of those invited exclusively by FAO.
This agenda discussed a development we could potentially do to improve our living ecosystems一something that could actually affect food security in the world. Through DASF 2023, it was concluded that one of the things that could be done to make it happen was to create digital innovations. With 40,000 registered Aruna Fishers, Aruna developed an internal application, the main ammunition to streamline the fisheries supply chain in Indonesia and ensure traceability of Aruna products. The origin of fish, the vessels used by fishers could be identified. Hence, Aruna consumers were guaranteed to get safe and responsible consumption of fishery products.
Aziz Elbehri, Senior Economist and Stream Leader of FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said in his opening remark, “Ambitions must be built together, then actualized through concrete actions. Ambition is shaped through stories, experiences, journeys. Only then, we held a session to exchange initiatives for the development of a more innovative digital agricultural ecosystem. Everything must be holistic: from how we can streamline supply chains, to ensuring product traceability, to securing resource availability for generations to come.”
Utari said, “Coming from a traditional fishing village, I am driven to empower small-scale fishers and their communities, protecting the surrounding environment, while being consumer-oriented. Through Aruna’s regular programs, we strive to maintain our engagement with coastal communities, as well as introduce them to Aruna’s simple technology that they can use for creating their profiles and recording their transactions. Aruna also promotes sustainability of marine ecosystems and provides assistance for them, so the consumers feel safe with the products that Aruna sells.”
Great Potentials as a Maritime Country, Aruna Collaborated with Partners to Optimize
Sulawesi, Indonesia – Commemorating the National Maritime Day, Aruna collaborated with Lini Foundation and Rare Conservation to empower local fishers in Central and Southeast Sulawesi. A series of training activities were held on September 15 and 23 involving up to 100 Aruna Fishers. The training revolved around fish processing and socialization related to the implementation of marine ecosystem sustainability.
The first agenda took place in Banggai Laut, Central Sulawesi. It was held on 15 September 2023. The potential catch of Banggai Laut was dominated by puffer fish, but Aruna realized that the people there had not got adequate education regarding puffer fish post-catch processing. In fact, bubbles in puffer fish were rich in collagen and had an excellent selling price and export value. Therefore, for this particular case, Aruna collaborated with Lini Foundation to provide mentoring for coastal communities.
Muhammad Taufiq, the Field Coordinator of the Banggai Laut Program from Lini Foundation, stated, “Who else will support our fishers and coastal communities if not ourselves? Having an aligned vision, Aruna and Lini Foundation join hands to help empower coastal communities. They must be aware that the potential around them has exquisite economic value, but they must also be the one who takes care of it and benefits from it. It then must certainly be followed by the sustainability of responsible marine ecosystems.”
The second agenda took place in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi. It was held on 23 September 2023. In collaboration with Rare Conservation, Aruna held a number of training activities covering financial literacy, registration of Social Security Administrator for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) and Electronic Marine and Fisheries Business Actor Card (e-Kusuka), as well as sustainability implementation through Fisheries Area Access Management. Aruna realized that capacity building from various aspects could help improve the economic management of coastal communities.
Tarlan Subarno, the Program Implementation Associate of Rare Conservation, added, “We understand that being a fisher is definitely a very risky job as they completely are unable to control the forces of nature. On this National Maritime Day, Aruna and Rare Conservation invite BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and e-Kusuka to talk to the coastal communities here. They must also register themselves as official business actors. Thus, they have various beneficial guarantees, such as work accident insurance, even death.”
Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, stated, “Beyond education on fundamental matters for fishers and coastal communities, this agenda is also a forum for communication and connection. We can help provide some targeted masses, with whom the local Marine and Fisheries Office and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan can share their programs. We are a maritime country. We must work together to optimize the potential of the ocean and make it a better livelihood for all.”
Aruna Formulated an Action Plan for Fisheries Improvement Program on Blue Swimming Crab
East Kalimantan, Indonesia – On 20-21 September 2023 in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Aruna, the pioneer of integrated fisheries commerce in Indonesia, held a Fisheries Improvement Program Stakeholder Meeting for Blue Swimming Crab commodity. The main agenda was the establishment of a consultative panel and a mutual agreement on a specific action plan. This activity was initiated by Aruna as one of the true believers of eligibility in obtaining MSC certification. Aruna had previously undergone the pre-assessment stage early in the previous year.
Capacity Building Training (CBT) Level 1 for interdisciplinary parties in the fishery field also took place there. The capacity building aimed to drive up the stakeholders’ understanding of MSC certification standards, hence sustainable fisheries in East Kalimantan could be consistently promoted and actualized. This event was expected to give a lingering positive impact on crab fisheries in the area.
It was opened by Muhammad Idnillah, the Director of Vessels and Fishing Equipment at the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries MMAF. Multi stakeholders attended the event, such as the Fisheries and Marine Service of East Kalimantan Province, the Balikpapan Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Office, the Fisheries Service of North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU), the Fisheries Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (PUSRISKAN BRIN), the Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision Unit of Tarakan (Satwas SDKP), the Fish Quarantine Agency, and Class I Fisheries Product Quality and Safety Control of Balikpapan (BKIPM).
Muhammad Idnillah or the one who was more often called Cak Muh, said, “We fully support Aruna’s initiation to carry out a crab fisheries improvement program in East Kalimantan Province. We’re positive that this will improve the traceability of fishery products in the region. This program, we’re sure, can encourage the use of environmentally friendly fishing gears and optimize the legality of fishing vessels, one step at a time.”
The results of this stakeholder meeting then formulated the formation of a consultative panel. The panel worked on the commodity management of Blue Swimming Crab and an action plan for the Fisheries Improvement Progress Program. The specified plan and consultative panel got the full support of many parties, one of which was Irhan Hukmaidy, the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) of East Kalimantan Province. He said, “What a brilliant initiative to manage sustainable fishery resources! It’s really in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. Let’s hope that this agenda can increase not only the competitiveness of fishery products, but also the social and economic benefits for the community.”
Closing the agenda, Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, added, “Frankly, we expect that with this stakeholder meeting, we can collaborate with more stakeholders, as well as work with them, especially on our function in the consultative panel. Hopefully we can develop not only a strategic plan for sustainable crab fisheries management, but also consistently bring it to life together.”
Aruna Selected on UNDP Training: Regional Human Rights Due Diligence Training
Bali, Indonesia – On 18-20 September 2023, Aruna was selected to attend a training held by UNDP with the theme B+HR Academy: Regional Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Training in Bali. UNDP’s B+HR academy conducted its first regional training on human rights due diligence (HRDD) for businesses in Southeast Asia. This activity was part of UNDP’s partnership program with the Government of Japan in promoting the implementation of responsible business practices and focusing on Human Rights in global supply chains.
Aruna was one of 40 other companies in Southeast Asia that had the chance to take part in the prestigious training. The purpose of the training was to help companies ensure alignment of business practices with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as other emerging policies.
“We’re beyond happy to know that we can take part in this training, given that the seat is very limited. We expect that through this training, we will have got a lot of good insights that can be applied in Aruna—everything for our businesses to run responsibly and also prioritize human rights,” said Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna.
Summarized by one of the speakers, Archana Kotecha, Founder and CEO of the Remedy Project, explained, “The harmony between business and human rights is a basic thing that must be balanced. It’s very important and needs to come first so that business can survive for the long term for sure.”
Unique Life Cycle Makes Lobsters Live Long
Delicious seafood that is often served at special moments: lobsters! We’re familiar with the tastiness, the tender texture of the meat, but what about the life cycle of this particular marine animal? It’s interesting to know, no? One of the uniqueness that sea lobsters have is their age. As it turns out, sea lobsters can survive to the age of 140 years!
Sea Lobster Life Cycle
The thing that makes sea lobsters so attractive is their longevity. They can live up to decades, there are even some species that can reach hundreds of years!
For example, the North American lobster (Homarus americanus) and the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) are sea lobsters that can live up to 100 years. Even research says, some can survive to the age of 140 years!
Then, how is their life cycle?
The growth of sea lobsters is divided into four phases. Starting from the larval phase (nauplisoma and phylosoma), the postlarval phase (puerulus), the young lobster phase (juvenile), and the last is the adult lobster phase. When it reaches the juvenile phase, the skin of sea lobsters contains a lime substance that makes the shell hard.
Sea lobsters have the ability to molt. This very process allows lobsters to continue to grow throughout their lives, albeit at a growth rate that gets slower with age.
Larger species tend to live longer because they protect themselves from predators. In addition, environmental factors also affect the lifespan of sea lobsters. They are sensitive to changes in temperature, water quality, and conditions of the marine environment.
Characteristics of Sea Lobsters
Similar to shrimp, the body of a sea lobster consists of two main parts, namely the cephalothorax (head) and abdomen (body). The abdomen is covered by hard, prickly skin called the shell. Such strong shells are used to protect themselves from danger. Body color varies, it can be greenish-blue, brown, or blackish.
Often found around coral reefs, the habitat of sea lobsters is actually quite diverse. They can live at depths of 100 meters below sea level and on the rocky seabed. This marine animal is a type of nocturnal animal. They are also very aggressive in hunting prey.
Sea Lobster as a Commodity
Sea lobsters are a valuable commodity, given that they are more sought after in the global market and so higher in value. The delicacy of its meat has become everyone’s favorite in the culinary world.
The characteristics of a quality sea lobster are the bright color of the shell and the rather large size. However, due to the slow growth process, it can take years to get adult sea lobsters ready for consumption. Therefore, sea lobsters have a relatively expensive price.
Sea lobsters are unique animals with interesting characteristics and life cycles. They are not only the most-wanted one in the culinary world, but also represent amazing marine resources.
You can find sea lobster products at Seafood by Aruna, which offers high-quality marine products. Other various types of fish and seafood from local fishers can also be ordered easily on the platform.
Aruna Shared How to Implement Digital Transformation for Indonesian Fishers at AIPF 2023
Jakarta, Indonesia – On 5-6 September 2023, Aruna came as a speaker to the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF): Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. AIPF was one of the series of a flagship event, the 43rd ASEAN Summit, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Indonesia and many delegates from ASEAN countries. Taking place at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, AIPF discussed three main areas, namely green infrastructure and resilient supply chains, digital transformation and creative economy, and sustainable and innovative financing.
Being impactful on digital transformation and creative economy, Aruna was selected to be a speaker in one of the discussion panels. Represented by Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder & Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, Aruna’s success in connecting Indonesian fishers to the global market was the ultimate reason why Aruna was invited in the prestigious event. The panel in which Utari spoke discussed the implementation and adaptation of technology initiated by each company, which also gave a significant impact on multi stakeholders.
“I’m proud and grateful to be part of this great discussion panel session. It’s truly an opportunity to show how committed and serious we are about actualizing the welfare of Indonesian fishers using technological innovations that we develop and use internally. This moment is also a chance for us to promote Indonesian fishery products to larger ASEAN markets. Do hope it will be a good start for further cooperation with other ASEAN countries,” said Utari.
Utari explained that the technological transformation applied to Aruna’s business ecosystem aimed to revolutionize the supply chain of the Indonesian fisheries industry. “It’s not to change or cut the existing system. Fishers are definitely in Aruna’s DNA and more than 40,0000 Aruna Fisher spread across 31 provinces of Indonesia have now been positively impacted. One of the impacts is an increase in income of at least 3 to 12 times,” she added. Aruna Fishers had been facilitated with various benefits, such as Kusuka (Marine and Fisheries Entrepreneur Card), BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Social Security Administrator for Employment), and other financial access.
Selected Aruna Enliven ASEAN Online Sale Day
Semarang, Indonesia – Aruna was chosen to attend the ASEAN Online Sales Day (AOSD) activity held by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendag) in Semarang, Central Java. Lasting for 4 days, August 19-22, 2023, this activity opens up opportunities for potential local products to show off to the global market, especially ASEAN countries.
Aruna responded positively to this opportunity and got the opportunity to chat with the Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Zulkifli Hasan and also Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) as well as introducing some of Aruna’s superior frozen seafood products such as tuna, shrimp, and rajungan crab meat. Aruna hopes that through this activity, the potential of fishery products from Indonesia can be increasingly known and recognized by the world. Also, Aruna also opens opportunities for cooperation with ASEAN countries, especially for the supply of frozen seafood products from Indonesian fishermen which are certainly processed by meeting international standards.
Farid Naufal Aslam, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aruna, said, “we are proud of Aruna’s chosen opportunity at this big event. With this, we can introduce world-standard Indonesian fishery products. Our fisheries have a wide potential and our sea is rich in it, so why not, this is an event to simultaneously show off Indonesian seafood and the catch of local Indonesian fishermen. Hopefully in this activity, it can also open a new market for Aruna to continue to distribute the catch of local fishermen.”
Still in the same scope, next week Aruna is also invited to be a speaker at the “6th ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit” event by ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations ESCAP, and, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting will focus on three main activities, namely MSME development, economy, and investment. Hopefully, this agenda can create a commission dialogue to explore opportunities and prepare for a sustainable and inclusive future.
Aruna Became Part of Seafood Savers Membership by WWF
Jakarta, Indonesia – A number of organizations seriously made various efforts to promote sustainable fisheries practices, one of which was the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia. WWF Indonesia initiated the membership of Seafood Savers which would help industry players actualize sustainable fisheries across the archipelago. Aruna now successfully became part of the Seafood Savers membership and this proved Aruna’s commitment to running a responsible business and maintaining the sustainability of Indonesia’s fishery ecosystem.
Handover of Seafood Savers Membership Cards by Imam Musthofa Zainudin to Utari Octavianty
Taking place at the WWF Indonesia Headquarters on 7 August 2023, Utari Octavianty, Aruna’s Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer received a symbolic membership card handed directly by Imam Musthofa Zainudin, the Director of WWF Indonesia’s Marine and Fisheries Program. This membership marked Aruna’s willingness to implement sustainable fisheries practices in Aruna’s business ecosystem. Seafood Savers would help Aruna assist various sorts of training and sustainable fisheries practices, one of which was the Fish Improvement Program (FIP).
“On behalf of Aruna, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. This has become new flame for us to bring Aruna’s mission to reality—a better livelihood for all, especially our coastal communities. We believe that this program can hold us together for a long-term partnership. Together we implement sustainable fisheries practices in all of our Aruna Hubs spread across the country,” said Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna.
This Seafood Savers membership would certainly give a positive impact on Indonesian fisheries, especially in increasing its competitiveness as well as the bargaining position of Indonesian fish products in the global market. This big chance encouraged Aruna even more to want to join the program of Seafood Savers. Up to today, there were 11 companies incorporated into the membership.
“We welcome Aruna’s initiative and we are also open to any positive collaboration where we can work together. We also congratulate Aruna for its beautiful journey to finally get to embark its journey on this membership. We expect that the membership can be used wisely and responsibly. Let’s voice out sustainability, of course by remaining to stay in the right corridor,” concluded Imam Musthofa Zainudin, the Director of Marine and Fisheries Program of WWF Indonesia.
On Behalf of Aruna, The Maritim Foundation Introduced Seafood by Aruna at Astra Entrepreneurship Festival Event
Yogyakarta, Indonesia – On July the 29th and 30th, 2023, Astra International held Astra Entrepreneurship Festival in Mangunan, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY). The agenda brought about the theme of “Community Economic Welfare through Sustainable Creativity” and focused on increasing creativity, sustainability, and the welfare of local communities. The event was attended by a number of VIP guests, such as the Deputy Minister of Trade; Jerry Sambuaga, Directorate General of Economic Development and Village Investment; Harlina Sulistyorini, DIY Governor; Sri Sultan HB X, and Director of Destination Governance and Sustainable Tourism; Indra Ni Tua.
Aruna, represented by Maritim Nusantara Lestari Foundation, as a selected facilitator for Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) collaboration program, also enlivened the agenda. It had the privilege to participate in the business matching and promotion session. Seafood by Aruna (SBA) products were also showcased to the invited guests. On the second day, Astra conducted a ceremonial inauguration for the Management Structure of Fisheries Cluster in DSA, where Aruna played its role as a supervising escort.
During the agenda, the Chief of Corporate Affairs of Astra International, Riza Deliansyah, said, “At Astra Entrepreneurship Festival Event, we officially appointed our new cluster management and inaugurated DSA Mangunan dance, a contemporary dance that the people in the area had created. We basically want to bring back the harmony of creativity, sustainability, and wellness, especially at DSA Mangunan. It isn’t only the economic aspect that we focus on, but also the creative and cultural one, the sustainable and the environmental one. We also invited the Maritim Foundation as our DSA facilitator partner.”
Utari Octavianty, Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, added, “On behalf of the Maritim Foundation, Aruna would love to express its gratitude for the trust Astra International has continually given to the Maritim Foundation as a DSA facilitator. Hopefully, Astra Entrepreneurship Festival in Mangunan can actualize the community’s economic welfare through sustainable creativity. We also hope that DSA Mangunan can be another benchmark for DSA’s success. Always do the best for each other so that this collaboration can take place well in an infinite time.”
Aruna and Astra Released Containers of Local Fishers’ Fishery Products
East Java, Indonesia – On 13 July 2023, Aruna and PT Astra International Tbk released containers of fishery products caught by the Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) fishers in Bangkalan, East Java. These fishers were technically fostered by Nusantara Lestari Maritime Foundation. The container containing 20 tons of various fishery product commodities, such as crab, skipjack tuna, pelagic, and demersal fish, was aimed to be processed by the fishery processing industry in Indonesia.
This agenda was initiated by Aruna to support the downstream part of the local fishery products that would later reach all provinces in the country, from Aceh to Papua. On behalf of Aruna, Maritime Foundation was the facilitator who helped organize DSA. It ultimately aimed to distribute fishery products caught by DSA fishers in order to meet the needs of the fishery processing industry in Indonesia.
Susi Susanto, the Vice President of Community Development of Aruna, said, “We are very well-aware that Indonesia’s marine commodities are undoubtedly of high quality, the world has even acknowledged it. With this very activity, Aruna expects to support and accelerate the going of this industry—processed products for both international and local markets. We’ve always wanted to enable the availability of demands and markets for local fishers.”
The symbolic agenda of container release was carried out by Dewi Paramita, the Astra CSR Program Manager and Susi Susanto, the Vice President of Community Development Aruna. A number of representatives from several ministries, namely the Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Budi Sulistyo; the Assistant Deputy for Community Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Chairul Saleh; and a representative from the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment, Suhendar.
The event was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration. They were a team that consisted of young expert policy analysts, the East Java Head of Marine and Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing, the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service of Sidoarjo, and the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service of Bangkalan.
The synergy in the form of DSA built by the Maritime Foundation on behalf of Aruna with PT Astra International Tbk, was dedicated to empowering the fishing and coastal communities. The program focused on the fishers’ productivity through business capital assistance and other sessions of training on environmentally friendly fishing gear, minimum standards of fishery products that must be met, and added-value production to drive up selling power for domestic and global markets.
“The agenda is definitely a form of successful collaboration between the Maritime Foundation and Astra International in developing DSA and local potential in the sector. I hope programs as such can be even more well-established so more remote villages in Indonesia can be covered. That way, we’re willing to help more communities get a better living and promote Indonesian marine to both global and domestic market,” said Dewi Paramita, the CSR Program Manager of Astra International.
Aligned with the program, Aruna managed to bring home two MURI records for the Indonesian fisheries sector. In April 2023, Aruna broke the record in the category of “The Largest Attended Hybrid Education of Sustainable Fishing for Indonesian Fishers”. Also, in early June 2023, MURI again gave a world record appreciation for the category “Local Creations of Blue Swimming Crab: Serving Dishes with the Most Menu Variants”.