Sekolah Seniman Pangan · School of Food Artisans
Sekolah Seniman Pangan · School of Food Artisans
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Since 2017, Sekolah Seniman Pangan has nurtured a new generation of rural food entrepreneurs who preserve biodiversity and strengthen local economies.
Seniman Pangan was established in 2017 by Helianti Hilman, founder of Javara, after more than a decade of working alongside farmers, Indigenous communities and local food artisans across Indonesia.
Through these partnerships she witnessed two realities at once: Indonesia holds one of the world’s richest food biodiversities, yet many local food producers face limited economic opportunity, declining interest among the young, and the gradual loss of traditional food knowledge.
She believed agriculture could offer a more promising future when combined with entrepreneurship, innovation and market access — seeing farmers not as producers of raw commodities, but as food artisans.
A hands-on residential school where participants build businesses together — from cultivation to market.
Learning farm, food lab, café and retail space: every stage of the value chain, practised for real.
Participants contribute through the businesses they develop instead of paying conventional tuition.
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
Launched as Javara Academy — a residential school for rural food entrepreneurs.
With BRG: 10 products from peatland communities, from beras gambut to liberica coffee.
8 products developed — from seaweed shirataki noodles to Taliwang chili paste.
A multi-year bootcamp for halal food entrepreneurs begins (2020–2026).
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Business incubation, branding, product development.
02
Farm-to-table experiences, culinary tourism, pop-up dining.
03
Local ingredients, traditions and Indigenous knowledge.
04
Inclusive enterprises with winning products and services.
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Bootcamps, mentorship, workshops, rural enterprise training.
Building a sustainable business ecosystem to empower rural youth, women and Indigenous communities in developing market-oriented, bio-culture-based enterprises rooted in nature and local culture.
Founder
Entrepreneur and gastronomy advocate; founded JAVARA (2008) and initiated Pasti Collective. Recognised by the Skoll and Schwab Foundations.
Helianti Hilman is an Indonesian entrepreneur and gastronomy advocate working at the intersection of biodiversity, culture and food. Her work focuses on reviving Indonesia’s biocultural food heritage while creating sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.
In 2008 she founded JAVARA, connecting thousands of smallholder farmers and food artisans across Indonesia to national and global markets through biodiversity-based products. She later founded Sekolah Seniman Pangan to nurture grassroots food entrepreneurs, and initiated Pasti Collective, a multistakeholder cooperative that helps ethical, biocultural food enterprises grow through shared resources and market access.
Most recently, Helianti has been developing community-based Bioculture Gastronomy, curating immersive food experiences that celebrate biodiversity, seasonality and cultural landscapes.
Business Director
30+ years in global hospitality (Hilton, Marriott, Kempinski); now championing gastro-cultural, community-based gastronomy.
Johanna Hehakaja is an Indonesian hospitality connoisseur with over 30 years of global experience, having held leadership roles with renowned groups such as Hilton, Marriott and Kempinski.
As a former Food and Beverage Director, she is recognised for elevating dining experiences while celebrating Indonesia’s cultural heritage through innovative dining programmes. Since 2022 she has focused on gastro-cultural and community-based gastronomy, partnering with Javara and joining Sekolah Seniman Pangan.
Today she works at the intersection of culinary tradition and wellness, championing the artisans and farmers who shape Indonesia’s vibrant food landscape.
Partnership Director
25+ years in local economic development, including 15 years in Flores — turning local potential into real opportunity.
Etih Suryatin is an Indonesian Farmers Artist Manager with over 25 years of experience in local economic development, strengthening community-based enterprises across Indonesia, including 15 years living and working in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.
Through her work with the Seniman Pangan team, she explores Indonesia’s rich food biodiversity, connecting local ingredients and traditional knowledge with livelihoods, and positioning communities as both producers and custodians of their own heritage.
Food Technologist & Education Manager
Food technologist specialising in product development, research and sensory evaluation — from concept to commercialisation.
Corazon Nikijuluw is an experienced, detail-oriented food technologist with expertise in food product development, research and sensory evaluation.
She brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver innovative, profitable solutions on time and within budget, and has a track record of supporting innovation and value-improvement initiatives from concept through commercialisation.
Since 2017 across 37 regions and 6 landscapes in Indonesia.
Regions in Indonesia
Food artisans involved & directly trained
Public communities trained on thematic topics
Local champions empowering future changemakers
Products fine-tuned & developed
Food biodiversities identified
Thematic gastronomy experiences developed & promoted
Terroirs / landscapes
Discover partnership opportunities that align with your vision, goals and community impact.
