A total of 635 Amarta Muda, the designation for new students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM) officially took part in the opening of the Pionir Organik 2025 event, held on Wednesday, 6 August, 2025, at the Fisheries Field of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM.

The event was symbolically opened through the rotation of the “Harmoni Cakra Abhipraya” gear by the Dean of Faperta UGM, Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D., accompanied by the faculty leadership team, including the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie, S.P., M.Si., Coordinator of the PPSMB Pionir Organik 2025 Cluster, Dr. Firdausi Nur Azizah, S.P., and General Coordinator of Pionir Organik 2025, Adiyatma Tunjung R.

In his remarks, the Dean expressed appreciation and motivational messages to all the new students. “Welcome, Amarta Muda. You are among the chosen ones who succeeded in becoming part of Faperta UGM. Agriculture is a key sector in Indonesia’s development, and you are the future leaders who will safeguard national food security. In facing the threat of a global food crisis, your role is central. Let us synergize, study wholeheartedly, and support one another as we grow together,” he said.

A similar message was conveyed by Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie, who warmly welcomed the new students.

“Thank you for choosing Faperta UGM as your place to grow. Here, you will not only be trained as experts in agriculture and fisheries but also be given opportunities to develop your interests and talents in both academic and non-academic fields. We hope you can make real contributions to the environment, society, the nation, and the country,” she added.
The symbolic opening involved seven gears carried by representatives of Student Department Associations (HMD) and Semi-Independent Bodies (BSI) as a representation of student self-development units. The seven gears embodied key values that serve as the guiding principles of Amarta Muda: participation, collaboration, innovation, sustainability, technology, individual intelligence, and environmental awareness. This symbol also reflected the grand theme of Pionir Organik 2025: “Synergy of Amarta, Transformation of the Nation’s Agriculture.”

Coordinator of the PPSMB Pionir Organik 2025 Cluster, Dr. Firdausi Nur Azizah, explained that this series of activities was designed to introduce new students to the world of agriculture and fisheries in a comprehensive manner. Besides introducing the academic system and various institutional components of Faperta, the program also instills adaptive, critical, and supportive values in facing future challenges in the agricultural sector.
“We want to equip Amarta Muda with a holistic understanding of their academic journey, while also fostering a collaborative spirit and readiness to create sustainable, technology-based agriculture,” Firdausi explained.

Pionir Organik 2025 involved 105 student committee members who dedicated their time, energy, and ideas to welcome and accompany the new students. The event was also attended by faculty leaders, including the dean, vice dean, heads and secretaries of departments, heads of study programs, and the head of the academic office.

The entire series of activities supports the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s commitment to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Authors : Agrit Kirana Bunda and Muhamad Fathan Mubina
Editor : Desi Utami

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), officially launched the Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2025 (SC-STA 2025) on Monday, 21 July 2025, held virtually via Zoom. Carrying the theme “The Journey of Coffee from Seed to Cup,” the program brought together 52 participants from diverse educational levels and professional backgrounds, both from Indonesia and abroad, including Gambia, Sudan, the Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Ghana, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

SC-STA 2025 represents a concrete step by Faperta UGM in supporting the internationalization of education and fostering cross-country collaboration. The program is designed to broaden participants’ understanding of sustainable tropical agriculture through theoretical learning and hands-on field practice, while also strengthening international academic networks.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Ir. Jaka Widada, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., emphasized in his opening remarks that this year’s Summer Course specifically focuses on the practice of sustainable tropical agriculture by using coffee as a case study.

“This program is designed not only as an academic space but also as a valuable experience that encourages practical understanding of sustainable tropical agriculture,” he stated.

Jaka also encouraged all participants to actively engage throughout the program. “I invite students to not hesitate in asking questions, joining discussions, and building connections. This is the moment to expand your knowledge and turn it into a meaningful experience. I wish you all a very successful and enjoyable Summer Course,” he concluded.

The program runs for two weeks under two schemes: an online session from 21–25 July 2025, covering topics such as sustainable tropical agriculture, adaptive farming systems, integrated smallholder plantations, agricultural innovation, and socio-economic perspectives; followed by an offline session from 4–8 August 2025, which includes field visits to various coffee centers in Yogyakarta and Central Java.

The program also features speakers from various national and international institutions, including:

• Pattrawut Pusingha (University of York, UK)
• Manuel Boissiere (CIRAD, France)
• Cheng-I Hsieh (National Taiwan University, Taiwan)
• Sudaryanto, M.Si. (National Project Manager, Indonesia)
• Irfan Dwidya Prijambada (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia)
• Elida Novita (National Chairman & Chief of Java Ijen Coffee Section – Universitas Jember, Indonesia)
• Tofael Ahamed (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
• Retno Hulupi (Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute)
• Sastia Prama Putri (Osaka University, Japan)
• Dyah Woro Untari, S.P., M.P. (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia)
• Maria Victoria Espaldon (University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines)

Through an interdisciplinary approach, participants are invited to explore the challenges and solutions in coffee production as well as sustainability principles relevant to tropical agriculture. SC-STA 2025 also directly contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Authors: Agrit Kirana Bunda, Anin Dita Rahmadiyanti

Editor: Desi Utami

Vice Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Nezar Patria, delivered a keynote speech at the 2025 PPSMB Pionir Organik Motivation Seminar held by the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM) on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at the Prof. Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium. The seminar, themed “Collaboration of Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Sustainable Agro-Maritime Transformation”, highlighted the importance of digital technology and AI mastery for the next generation of agricultural leaders in Indonesia.

The event was attended by 635 Amarta Muda, the official designation for new students of Faperta UGM, who were welcomed into nine academic programs: Agronomy, Aquaculture, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Soil Science, Aquatic Resource Management, Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural Extension and Communication, Plant Protection, and Fishery Product Technology.

In his presentation, Nezar emphasized the significant contribution of the agricultural sector to Indonesia’s economy, amounting to Rp2,617 trillion or 12.53% of the national GDP. However, he also pointed out the sector’s ongoing challenges, particularly in food insecurity, limited digital adoption, and low exposure to AI technologies.

“Currently, the exposure of the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors to AI stands at only 1.34%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for all of us, especially agriculture students who will be the key drivers of future transformation,” Nezar stated.

He highlighted the vast potential of AI to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity through various use cases, including market digitalization, precision farming and fishing, digital financing, smart resource monitoring and management, climate resilience, and supply chain optimization.

Despite its promise, AI implementation in developing countries like Indonesia faces serious obstacles, such as limited digital infrastructure, lack of private sector collaboration for innovation, data governance and security issues, and uneven distribution of digital talent. Nezar stressed the need for cross-sector synergy, among government, industry, academia, and communities, to build an inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem.

“Indonesia will need 9 million digital talents in the near future. Agriculture students must be part of the solution. It’s not enough to rely on theory, you must equip yourselves with digital skills and a strong understanding of tech ethics,” he added.

Nezar also shared several initiatives led by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, including expanding internet access to 3T regions (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost areas), developing 5G technology and the SATRIA satellite, and launching programs such as the Digital Talent Scholarship and Digital Leadership Academy, along with the formulation of a national AI roadmap.

In closing, Nezar encouraged Faperta UGM’s new students to actively engage in agro-maritime transformation through technological mastery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a spirit of innovation to achieve inclusive and sustainable agriculture.

This seminar was a key part of the 2025 PPSMB Pionir Organik orientation series, designed not only to introduce campus life but also to equip new students with strategic insights to address national and global agricultural challenges.

The event also contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami