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A community service team from the Faculty of Agriculture UGM (Faperta UGM), led by Dr. Alia Bihrajihant Raya, S.P., M.P., Ph.D., and joined by interdisciplinary faculty members—Prof. Subejo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., Dr. Desi Utami, S.P., M.Env.Sc., Ph.D., Dody Kastono, S.P., M.P., Angga Prasetya, S.P., M.Sc.—along with undergraduate and graduate students, developed an innovative training program to improve soil fertility management using the Lentera DESA digital platform.

Lentera DESA is designed as an innovative educational platform offering training and discussion features to facilitate the dissemination of agricultural knowledge. Using a blended learning method that combines online and in-person meetings, this program aims to enhance the capacity of farmers and agricultural extension officers in understanding soil fertility management. read more

The issue of fertilizer availability and efficiency remains a key challenge for farmers in improving agricultural yields. As an innovative solution, a community service team from the Faculty of Agriculture UGM conducted training on biochar production and application for farmer groups in Koripan, Matesih, Karanganyar, from April to November 2024.

Led by Susanti Mugi Lestari, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, the team collaborated with lecturers from various departments, including Dr. Desy Putri Handayani, S.Pi., Dr. Sulistiowati, S.Si., M.Si., Dr. Endah Prihatiningtyastuti, S.P., M.Si., Eko Hardianto, S.Pi., M.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., Mukti Aprian, S.Kel., M.Si (Han), Dr. Ega Adhi Wicaksono, S.Pi., from the Department of Fisheries; Agung Dian Kharisma, Ph.D., from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology; and Angga Prasetya, S.P., M.Sc., from the Department of Soil Science. Students from various study programs in the Faculty of Agriculture UGM also participated. read more

The Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), held another guest lecture titled “Current Research on Duckweed: an Aquatic Plant with Thousands of Benefits” on 22 November 2024. The event was conducted virtually via Zoom Meeting and featured two renowned speakers: Dr. Klaus-J. Appenroth from Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany, and Dr. K. Sowjanya Sree from Banaras Hindu University, India.

Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, opened the session by expressing his appreciation to the speakers. He also shared that duckweed has been utilized in UGM’s research on bioremediation of agricultural land, including studies on microbial symbiosis with duckweed roots to support its growth. read more