The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), together with the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), officially concluded the Advanced Training in Plant Health: From Field Surveillance to Molecular Technologies on Friday, June 26, 2026. The final day highlighted crucial topics on Seed Health and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), before closing with evaluation sessions and certificate presentations.
The first session, Seed Health & Diagnostics for Seed Systems, was delivered by Dr. Ram Khadka, Dr. Lourena Maxwell (WorldVeg), and Prof. Ani Widiastuti (UGM). The lecture emphasized the importance of detecting seed-borne pathogens and implementing seed health testing as a foundation for quality assurance in horticultural seed production. Participants then engaged in hands-on practice on seed health testing and disinfection techniques, facilitated by Dr. Khadka and Prof. Widiastuti.
The next session, IPM Strategies Across Vegetable Crops, provided participants with insights into integrated pest management for tomato, chili, cabbage, and spring onion. The materials highlighted the interconnection between diagnostics, resistance breeding, and the use of biological control agents such as Trichoderma, Bacillus, Beauveria, and Metarhizium. Interactive discussions enriched participants’ understanding of designing IPM packages tailored to field conditions, facilitated by UGM and WorldVeg teams.
To conclude the program, participants took part in a Post-Training Quiz as a reflection of six days of learning, followed by certificate presentations and closing remarks from WorldVeg and UGM representatives. The event reaffirmed both institutions’ commitment to strengthening the capacity of academics and agricultural practitioners through international knowledge transfer.
This training supports the achievement of SDG 2: Zero Hunger by enhancing productivity and resilience of food systems, SDG 4: Quality Education through capacity building of academics and practitioners in plant health, SDG 15: Life on Land via the application of IPM, seed health practices, and biological agents to sustain agroecosystems, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through close collaboration between UGM Faculty of Agriculture and the World Vegetable Center. With this conclusion, the Faculty of Agriculture UGM continues to play an active role in building sustainable agricultural systems that are globally competitive.
Author: Beny Nabila Happy Fauziah
Editor: Tantriani
Documentation: Media Unit of Faperta UGM