The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), served as one of the hosts for the ACIAR 2025 Annual Review, a part of the collaborative project HORT/2019/164: “Preparedness and Management of Huanglongbing (citrus greening disease) to safeguard the future of the citrus industry in Australia, China, and Indonesia.” The annual review was held on Monday, 5 May 2025, at the Venture Room, 6th Floor, AGLC Building, Faculty of Agriculture UGM.

The event gathered research teams from Faperta UGM, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI, Australia) to present their research progress on preparation and management practices in the citrus industry. The presentations were attended by ACIAR Manager of Horticulture, Dr. Sandra McDougall, and project reviewers Dr. Bronwyn Walsh and Ir. Agus Muharam, M.S. Students involved in the project were also present as part of the audience.

The event began with opening remarks by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D., who warmly welcomed the activity and expressed hope that the collaborative research would bring positive impact to the citrus industry on an international scale.

“This is a crucial moment for us to continue improving the citrus industry in Indonesia and Australia. Furthermore, the research outcomes can be used as a reference for the development of the citrus industry to enhance both quality and quantity,” said Jaka.

Opening speeches were also delivered by Mr. Myles Parker and Dr. Sandra McDougall, as the Project Leader and ACIAR Manager of Horticulture. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of this research in introducing proper management techniques for citrus cultivation on an industrial scale. They also acknowledged the various challenges faced by citrus farmers today and in the future, and expressed hope for continued academic and research collaboration between Australia and Indonesia.

“Of course, we hope to collaborate further with Indonesia in the future,” Parker stated.

The annual review was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnership at UGM, Dr. Danang Sri Handoko, S.Si., M.Sc. In his remarks, he highlighted that the activity not only served as an academic forum between the two countries but also represented UGM and ACIAR’s ongoing commitment to research collaboration in agriculture. He expressed hope that the partnership between UGM and ACIAR would be sustained in the future.

The presentation session opened with a keynote by Dr. Tahir Khursid titled “Rootstock Importance, Nursery Preparation, and High-Density Field Planting”. This was followed by presentations focused on managing Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) pests on citrus crops, delivered by Dr. Meena Thakur (NSW DPI), Alan Soffan, Ph.D. (Lecturer, Department of Plant Protection), Susi Wuryantini, M.P. (PhD student in Agricultural Sciences at UGM specializing in Plant Pest Science), and Haris Setyaningrum, M.Sc. (PhD student in Agricultural Sciences at UGM).

Further presentations focused on socio-economic analysis in agriculture, presented by Steven Falivene (NSW DPI), Dr. agr. Ir. Sri Peni Wastutiningsih (Lecturer in Agricultural Extension and Communication), Hariyani Dwi Anjani, S.P., M.Sc. (Lecturer in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness), and Hanita Athasari Zain, S.P., M.Sc. (Alumna of Agricultural Extension and Communication). The session closed with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Ir. Siti Subandiyah, M.Agr.Sc. (Professor, Faculty of Agriculture UGM), who is also the Indonesia Project Leader. She highlighted student involvement in the project as a crucial effort in capacity building.

Following the presentations, participants visited UGM’s Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT) in Berbah District, Sleman. During the visit, the delegation was introduced to various citrus varieties cultivated in a specialized greenhouse and was given an overview of UGM PIAT’s circular agriculture system. The visit provided a meaningful conclusion to the event and showcased the integration of research, innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices at UGM.

This activity is expected to further develop the citrus industry in Indonesia, Australia, and China. It also reflects Faperta UGM’s efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Writer: Noor Amelia Putri
Editor: Desi Utami

The Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), through the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, once again held a Guest Lecture titled “Microbial Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity” on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 via Zoom Meeting. The session featured Prof. Phil Hugenholtz, Director of the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) and Professor at The University of Queensland, Australia.

The guest lecture was opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Agricultural Microbiology Study Program at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM.

“Thank you very much, Prof. Philip Hugenholtz, for accepting our invitation to deliver this lecture. Starting this year, Evolution has become a compulsory course for our Agricultural Microbiology students. We hope this marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration, both in academics and research. I wish this guest lecture runs smoothly and proves beneficial to our students,” said Prof. Irfan.

Prof. Hugenholtz discussed the interconnectedness of microbial evolution, ecology, and diversity by presenting examples from the gut microbiomes of mice and koalas. He introduced S24-7, a group of bacteria within the phylum Bacteroidota, commonly found in the guts of warm-blooded animals. These bacteria, also known as Muribaculaceae, are abundantly present in the gut microbiome of laboratory mice, comprising up to 10–15%. Interestingly, their population is significantly higher in lab mice than in their wild counterparts. Domestication was shown to reduce microbiome diversity and weaken the immune systems of the domesticated mice.

Additionally, Prof. Hugenholtz explored microbes from the Planctomycetota group found in koalas. These microbes lack the typical characteristics of Planctomycete bacteria, such as peptidoglycan, budding reproduction, and intracellular compartments. Their eukaryotic-like features are believed to be products of evolutionary processes. Ecologically, these microbes are predicted to be motile, oxygen-tolerant anaerobes with cold resistance. Their presence in the koala microbiome is thought to be linked to the animals’ behavior of consuming termite nests.

The lecture offered fresh insights into how animal gut microbiomes evolve and adapt to their environments, emphasizing the importance of understanding microbial interactions in ecological and evolutionary contexts. As a note of inspiration, Prof. Hugenholtz encouraged students to pursue research aligned with their interests and passions.

“It’s an honor for me to have this opportunity. My message to students is: if you have the passion, there’s always a way to do the research you love. You just need to be in a good research institution, follow your interests and passion, and find a mentor who shares those interests. You can do it—even reach an H-index of 130,” said Prof. Hugenholtz.

Through this guest lecture, the Faculty of Agriculture UGM hopes to continue promoting international collaboration and strengthening the field of agricultural microbiology, in line with its vision of becoming a center of excellence in sustainable agricultural research and education. This effort also supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Writer: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: Media Faperta UGM

A team of academics and researchers led by Nur Ainun H.J. Pulungan, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., together with other expert lecturers and students from Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), conducted a training program titled “Rapid Assessment of Dryland Soil Fertility Using the Dryland Soil Testing Kit (PUTK)” in Loano, Purworejo. The training program spans eight months, from 29 February to 9 December 2024, and aims to enhance farmers’ capacity to assess soil fertility quickly and efficiently.

“Through this training, we aim to help farmers understand how to determine the appropriate types and dosages of fertilizers based on the specific needs of their land, thereby reducing production costs while preventing environmental degradation caused by excessive fertilization,” explained Nur Ainun. The use of PUTK as a practical tool to assess nutrient content allows farmers to conduct on-site soil testing without relying on laboratory facilities.

Throughout the training, farmers were taught not only how to operate the PUTK but also how to interpret the test results, enabling them to make informed and sustainable fertilization decisions. This program involved a number of experts, including Prof. Benito Heru Purwanto, M.P., M.Agr.Sc., Dr. Najmu Tsaqib Akhda, S.P., M.A., Dr. Firdausi Nur Azizah, S.P., M.P., Dr. Cahyo Wulandari, S.P., M.P., Andi Syahid Muttaqin, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., Angga Prasetya, S.P., M.Sc., and Fathi Alfinur Rizqi, S.T.P., M.Sc. Undergraduate and graduate students from Faperta UGM also contributed to this community service program, including Dema Azmir Hatta, Umi Mar’atus Sholihah, Gilang Rizky, Adi Try Laksono, S.P., and Arizona, S.P.

Through strong collaboration and a data-driven approach, this training is expected to improve land productivity in an efficient and sustainable manner, while also supporting environmental conservation efforts. At the same time, it represents Faperta UGM’s contribution to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Authors: Agrit Kirana Bunda, Naomi Cahaya Dewi

Editor: Desi Utami