IPB University Establishes Cooperation with Temasek Life Sciences Ltd Singapore
Recently, IPB University signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Temasek Life Sciences Ltd based in Singapore.
The cooperation is a joint research on carbon emission reduction in organic agriculture. This cooperation was facilitated by the Director of Global Connectivity of IPB University, Dr Eva Anggraini.
Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria strongly supports this cooperation program. Prof Arif said, carbon emission reduction in the agricultural sector is still not widely worked on.
“If IPB University and Temasek succeed in this program, then IPB University will become a pioneer in efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the agricultural sector,” said Rector.
The signing of the MoU was conducted at the Rectorate Building of IPB University and represented by the Vice Rector for Resource Resilience and Infrastructure, Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet. While Temasek was represented by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Chia.
Also present were the Chairman of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH) IPB University, Prof Edi Santosa and representatives from the IPB University Mine Reclamation Study Center, Dr Hermanu Widjaja.
Dr Alim said, “IPB University and Temasek seek to certify organic farming as a low-carbon agricultural activity, with a view to increasing the added value of organic farming,” he said.
In the initial stage, he said, IPB University and Temasek conducted research in Wonogiri, Central Java to examine a number of agricultural activities that could reduce carbon emissions, especially related to methane gas emissions.
Dr Alim said, there are three things that are expected to be achieved in this collaboration between IPB University and Temasek. “The first is to make methane gas measurement standards in organic farming,” he said.
Second, he continued, determining what organic farming activities can reduce greenhouse gas emission levels. The third is to improve the livelihood of the organic farming community.
“The main goal of the collaboration between IPB University and Temasek is the establishment of a Joint Testing Laboratory, dedicated to the analysis of greenhouse gases that can contribute to global warming and climate change. This is a very potential goal to be developed together,” said Dr Alim.
While Temasek’s CEO revealed, “Currently, IPB University together with Temasek has and is fostering organic farming in Wonogiri. The rice produced by this organic farming has been certified by international certification institutions and marketed to consumers in Singapore by Temasek,” he said.
One of the farmer representatives said that the organic farming program has greatly benefited the farming community in Wonogiri.
Meanwhile, IPB University’s Integrated Chemistry Laboratory will be used as a laboratory that will measure methane levels of organic agriculture using gas chromatography (GC-FID).
There are about 1,000 samples that will be analyzed for methane gas content. Chief of the Integrated Chemistry Laboratory, Dr. Mohammad Khotib agreed to analyze the methane gas with the method determined by Temasek.
The cooperation project was initiated by a quartet of researchers consisting of Prof Mohammad Winugroho as a coach for the Wonogiri organic farmer group. Then, Prof Bambang Purwantara who contributed to exploring the possibility of low-carbon organic farming research being elevated to the regional level through Seameo.
Furthermore, Prof Hefni Effendi also plays a role in organizing and connecting this research collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (MOE). Satria Oktarita, MSi oversees the technical aspects of the low-carbon agriculture research collaboration.
“This quartet of researchers intensively maintains communication with Temasek in Indonesia through a number of online and offline meetings, represented by PT Bloom Argo,” said Dr Alim.
Prof Rizaldi Boer as Chief of the International Research Institute-Environment and Climate Change (LRI-LPI) strongly supports this collaboration in the form of further studies for the certification process of low-carbon organic agriculture at the national and international levels.
On the other hand, the Minister of Environment, Dr Hanif Faisol Nurofiq and the Director General (Dirjen) of Climate Change Control (PPI), Ir Laksmi Dhewanthi, MA are both known to be very welcoming and supportive of this IPB University initiative. (*/Nr) (IAAS/RUM)
