As part of the 78th Anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), the National Seminar on Agricultural Research Results XIV was held on Saturday, 21 September 2024, at the Prof. Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium. Aligning with the anniversary theme, “Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Lahan dan Adaptasi Perubahan Iklim untuk Mewujudkan Kedaulatan Pangan” (Optimizing Land Use and Climate Change Adaptation for Achieving Food Sovereignty), Semnashas XIV invited three key speakers who are experts in their fields, attracting over 200 participants.
The chair of the Semnashas XIV organizing committee, Andi Syahid Muttaqin, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., shared that this year’s theme is highly relevant to the agricultural challenges currently facing Indonesia. These challenges emphasize the need for innovation and collaboration. He expressed hope that the seminar would facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among participants, fostering collaboration aimed at contributing to Indonesia’s agricultural sector.
“As the organizing committee, we hope that this seminar, attended by academics, researchers, and practitioners in the field of agriculture, will create opportunities for sharing knowledge and experiences, and for formulating strategies that can make a real contribution to sustainable agriculture in Indonesia,” said Andi, who is also a lecturer at the Department of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM.
In his opening remarks, Andi reported that the seminar had received over 160 paper submissions, exceeding the committee’s expectations. The participants represented 25 universities and institutions across Indonesia, attending either in person or virtually as presenters or non-presenters.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D., emphasized in his speech that agriculture is the backbone of the nation. He stated that agriculture should not focus solely on production but must also pay attention to ecosystem services.
“Until now, the agricultural sector has often neglected ecosystem services. By optimizing microorganisms or land use, in line with the theme of this seminar, we hope to place more focus on ecosystem services, thereby achieving sustainable agricultural practices and food sovereignty in Indonesia,” said the Dean.
The National Seminar on Agricultural Research Results XIV serves as one of the Faculty of Agriculture’s contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain and Desi Utami
Editor: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Photo: Media Faperta UGM