In today’s global era, agriculture faces significant challenges due to the increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which threaten water resources, soil quality, and plant growth environments. To address this, the adoption of Low Emission Development (LED) in agriculture has become crucial in reducing GHG emissions, ensuring a healthy farming system, and promoting economic, social, and environmental improvements in crop and livestock production while contributing to climate change mitigation.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Irham, M.Sc., a Professor of Agricultural Economics at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), discussed “Low Emission Development (LED) for Sustainable Agriculture” at the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Socioeconomics, Agribusiness, and Rural Development (ICSASARD) 2024. The event, held on 17 October 2024, at Alana Hotel Yogyakarta, focused on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and inclusive rural development.

During his presentation, Prof. Irham emphasized that agricultural production and food systems are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the agriculture sector is directly responsible for 8.5% of total GHG emissions, while an additional 14.5% comes from land-use changes, food production, and methane emissions from livestock.

“Agriculture contributes to carbon emissions in various ways, including land burning, wetland drainage, chemical usage, and livestock grazing, which produces methane. The use of fossil fuels in production processes also plays a role. Additionally, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock production, fertilization, and waste management further increase emissions,” explained Prof. Irham.

With the growing issue of GHG emissions, Low Carbon Footprint Agriculture has emerged as a sustainable approach to food production aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of farming activities. This approach includes organic farming, integrated pest management, aquaponics, and hydroponics.

Furthermore, conservation farming, climate-resilient crop varieties, and sustainable livestock feeding strategies are essential in reducing the agricultural carbon footprint. The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agriculture also plays a vital role in making farming eco-friendlier and more efficient.

“Investing in sustainable farming practices is not just about growing a business but also about creating a healthier future. One of the key factors for agriculture to thrive and remain sustainable is ensuring the regeneration of family farmers. Therefore, we must take concrete steps to encourage youth participation in agriculture and motivate them to actively contribute to rural development,” stated Prof. Irham.

The implementation of LED in agriculture is not only essential for food security and poverty reduction but also supports ecosystem conservation. By encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices, LED contributes to better water management and promotes sustainable policies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land

Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda

Editor: Desi Utami

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM) has established a collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture to conduct a Survey Investigation Design (SID) in support of the Quick Wins 2025 Rice Field Expansion program. The signing of the cooperation contract took place on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, at Hotel Palangka Raya, Jekan Raya, Palangka Raya. The agreement was signed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Nuryani Hidayah Utami, M.P., M.Sc., IPU, as the head of the Faculty of Agriculture  UGM team, and Ir. Sunarti, M.P., Head of the Central Kalimantan Provincial Agricultural Office for Food Crops, Horticulture, and Livestock.

According to Prof. Nuryani, this initiative aims to support national agricultural development policies by focusing on increasing agricultural production and food availability. The program aligns with national goals of food security, self-sufficiency, and sovereignty, emphasizing the need for expanding rice field areas to achieve these objectives.

“This cooperation covers an area of 10,000 hectares in Kapuas Regency. The rice field expansion program is one of the key strategies to increase the availability of agricultural land and contribute to national food security,” explained Prof. Nuryani.

The SID Quick Wins 2025 Rice Field Expansion collaboration is not limited to UGM but also involves several other universities, including Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Palangkaraya, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa-Banten, Universitas Jember, Universitas Andalas, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Brawijaya, Center of Technology Faculty of Engineering UNHAS, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, and Faculty of Engineering Universitas Negeri Makassar.

Prof. Nuryani expressed her hope that this collaboration will yield positive outcomes for the community while also reinforcing UGM Faculty of Agriculture’s role in education and community service. Furthermore, this initiative demonstrates the faculty’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

This cooperation serves as an important step in strengthening Indonesia’s agricultural sector while fostering academic and practical contributions to national food security.

Author: Hanita Athasari Zain, Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: Dokumentasi Tim SID Fakultas Pertanian UGM

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), hosted the Annual Research Meeting on Climate Resilient Crops Induced by Ultraviolet-B, held on Wednesday, 8 Januray 2024 at the Venture Room, 6th Floor of the Agrotropica Learning Center (AGLC) Building, Faculty of Agriculture UGM. This event is a follow-up to the research project titled “Study on the Expression of Several Shallot Resistance Genes Induced by UV-B Light Against Biotic Stress of Moler Disease.“ The research project is part of the Strategic Research Collaboration Implementation Contract (KATALIS) for the 2024 Fiscal Year, in collaboration with Universitas Padjadjaran, IPB University, and Universitas Andalas.

The collaboration among these universities was positively welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D.

“The Faculty of Agriculture is very pleased and warmly welcomes this collaboration,” stated Dr. Jaka in his opening remarks. The research, led by Prof. Ani Widiastuti, S.P., M.P., Ph.D. a lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, focuses on enhancing shallot resistance to moler disease by utilizing ultraviolet-B (UV-B) technology to strengthen the expression of resistance genes in the plant.

During the consortium, researchers presented their findings on shallot development, including the identification of UV-B responses in Allium cepa, characterization of UV-B responses through omics approaches (1 & 2), and the application of UV-B treatment on Allium cepa. The event aimed to facilitate the exchange of the latest research discoveries and strengthen synergy among research institutions to support the development of climate-resilient and disease-resistant crops. This initiative is expected to contribute to addressing the increasingly urgent challenges of food security.

The incorporation of UV-B technology in shallot research is anticipated to make a significant contribution toward the development of biotic stress-resistant shallot varieties, ultimately boosting productivity and national food security in the future. The Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s involvement in this research consortium further underscores its commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Authors: Agrit Kirana Bunda & Alkhansa Khairunnisa
Editor: Desi Utami