Despite the individual challenges and characteristics of the agents discussed in the section The Flavor Trail, they are interconnected. After reflecting on last week's article, I identified a key trend in this section. Initially, the idea was to gradually address each agent in a distribution chain of various commodities (such as tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and food), especially those related to hospitality, promoting the idea of transforming them into more efficient distribution chains.
This premise is valid and feasible but would only be somewhat appropriate or realistic if left as is. The reasons are as follows:
Interdependence of the Agents
In a distribution chain, each agent operates with a degree of independence. However, in the end, there must always be a buyer and a seller. Without one, the other cannot exist. For example, the previous article discussed the conflict between an origin community and a multinational corporation. This case involves at least two agents whose decisions and actions impact every link in the chain, all the way to the final consumer. Therefore, discussing one agent without considering its relationship with others makes it difficult to understand the full picture.
Connection Between the Agents
Treating each agent in isolation may gradually create information gaps, leading to misunderstandings or fragmented ideas. Instead of building a cohesive narrative, there is a risk of promoting disconnected segmentation, which is counterproductive.
Accessibility and Continuous Learning
My goal with this section is to share valuable content in an understandable and approachable way. I do not aim to overwhelm or intimidate with overly technical knowledge. After all, we are all eternal learners. If the section requires prior knowledge that cannot be acquired through the content of the same journal, it will become inaccessible and limiting for readers.
For these reasons, the approach in The Flavor Trail will evolve to integrate two main aspects:
- The Practical Approach will explore the connections between agents, highlighting how their interactions impact the chain. Experts in the field, such as Sabita Banerji, Guy Chambers, and others, will accompany these writings.
- The Theoretical Approach Will provide clear answers to critical concepts, such as who the agents are, what a value chain is, and what a distribution chain entails. The practical approach will address these topics.
This combination will allow knowledge to be transmitted comprehensively. This way, we can all continue to be eternal learners on the exciting Flavor Trail.
Where to Begin?
Sections like The Flavor Trail, The Chemistry of Flavor, or The Sensory Dance don't have a particular structure. Although they require a certain structure to be taught or learned, that structure is not always clearly defined due to the transversal nature of the knowledge they address.
To provide further coherence and cohesion to the writings in the Flavor Pathway section, I've decided to carry out a deeper analysis, almost like an "X-ray" of the writings in the practical approach. Thus, the theoretical approach will focus on posing questions and answers about previously published articles, enriching their content with the necessary context to facilitate understanding.
Why "Leaks in Our Teapot"?
This first article clearly demonstrates the transversal nature of the knowledge addressed in this section. Therefore, we will start with the basics of understanding transversal knowledge.
Gurría (2022) explains that transversal knowledge is a methodology for transferring knowledge, combining both previous and new knowledge, integrating different disciplines rather than focusing solely on one. This approach allows the learner to understand and manage both types of knowledge inclusively, as long as the related disciplines align with the subject being treated. Establishing a relationship between these disciplines within the same learning framework is essential to complement each other rather than overshadowing one another.
This is why, to understand the article Leaks in Our Teapot, it is recommended that you read the articles from Companies, Kingdoms & Wars, and Sagas and Tales. Many of the things that are part of our lives today are made possible because of what happened in past centuries.
The articles Leaks in Our Teapot and Beyond the Label focus on tea estates in Africa and South Asia. Understanding the entire historical context and how we are still paying the price for our ancestors' actions is essential.
Why is everyone talking about sustainability?
Unfortunately, the term sustainability has been distorted to the point that, in some cases, it seems to be equivalent to "drink green tea to cure your anxiety"—but in the realm of pseudoscientific advertising. Many people and companies claim to know and practice it, but often, it's nothing more than nonsense.
BBVA (2024) states that sustainability ensures that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This encompasses every aspect of our lives—personal, social, and business-related.
But why is everyone talking about it? They even claim to be sustainable. The answer is more superficial and vaguer than it should be: To be socially responsible, which means recognizing our social, economic, and environmental impact on our surroundings. Socially responsible organizations drive their productivity based on ethical and moral standards, committed to creating positive internal and external changes (Pursell, 2021). However, too often, "making something look good creates something bad."
Let's take electric cars as an example. Sure, it's great not to depend on fossil fuels, but let's look at the batteries they contain: these are made from lithium, a non-renewable metal whose mining is far from innocent compared to oil mining.
This is why discussing sustainability is complex. There are too many Pirates of dreams led by Monarchs of the Shadows who sell an idea of well-being and responsibility when, in reality, it is not. In this case, it's not about finding culprits and pointing fingers but about bringing the existing lack of transparency to light.
Sustainability is not just a word but a concept that encompasses subcategories. For example, the focus on Sustainability at Satoricha.com covers the following areas:
- Environmental Sustainability: Aiming to return removed flora, remembering that every environment has an ecosystem affected by human actions. Beyond reforesting, it's about being mindful of the chemicals used and striving to avoid them.
- Human Sustainability: It's not just about offering a job with a salary, but about offering a dignified job whose benefits allow people to think beyond the paycheck, that is, about their future.
- Industrial Sustainability: Ensuring responsible practices that balance production, employee well-being, and resource preservation, preventing poor practices from jeopardizing long-term viability.
There is still much to understand from the past articles in The Flavor Trail, but we will gradually deepen and enrich our knowledge. We have already made significant progress based on what has been discussed today.
Remember that the hole will remain there if we drive a nail into a piece of wood and remove it. Just because we removed the nail doesn't mean everything is fixed. Every action we take or refrain from taking has consequences. That is why we must know, understand, and act according to our capacities for our good and the common good.
A constant drop of water can wear away a rock.
Satoricha ~
References
BBVA. (2024, October 7). ¿Qué es la sostenibilidad? Definición, conceptos y ejemplos. BBVA. Retrieved December 1, 2024, from https://www.bbva.com/es/sostenibilidad/que-es-la-sostenibilidad-un-camino-urgente-y-sin-marcha-atras/
Gurría, E. (2022). La transversalidad en educación. Revista AULA. https://revistaaula.com/la-transversalidad-en-educacion/
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