IPB University and Unhan RI Equip SPPI Participants on Agricultural Innovation
IPB University in collaboration with the Indonesia Defense University (Unhan) RI organized agricultural cluster enrichment activities in a series of Bachelor of Indonesian Development Movers (SPPI) Batch 2 programs. The event was designed to provide new insights relevant to the development of sustainable agriculture through the utilization of local resources.
The three-day activity involved 1.061 program participants. In the agriculture cluster, the event featured various innovative topics delivered by experts in the field.
Dr Akhmad Arifin Hadi, Chairman of the Department of Landscape Architecture at IPB University presented material on vertical gardens and the utilization of home yards. In the session, he explained the definition and advantages of garden towers, specifications, construction steps, suitable plant species, and innovations that encourage creativity.
He also introduced the concept of “Edible Garden” as a small-scale agricultural landscape that integrates landscape architecture with food crop cultivation in home yards.
“This program is a strategic step to increase people’s creativity and ability to utilize yard space. I hope concepts such as vertical gardens and edible gardens can be innovative solutions to the challenges of urban agriculture,” said Dr Akhmad when commenting on the SPPI program.
Prof Suryo Wiyono, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University, also made an important contribution to this event by thoroughly discussing rice cultivation in brackish water as a solution to adapt to environmental changes. This approach is expected to improve food security in areas with limited freshwater resources.
He also expressed his support for this program. “Enrichment activities like this are very important to strengthen the competence of participants, especially in facing the challenges of modern agriculture. The collaboration between IPB University and IDU proves our joint commitment in supporting sustainable agriculture based on innovation and local resources,” said Prof. Suryo.
Meanwhile, Dr Tjahja Muhandri, IPB University expert in food technology, shared knowledge about making healthy drinks based on vegetables and fruits. This material inspired participants to utilize local agricultural products in value-added food processing. In this session, participants were also given the opportunity to practice making ginger-based healthy drinks.
The activity organized by the Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development of IPB University and the Defense University succeeded in providing an understanding of various innovations in the agricultural sector, ranging from the utilization of home yards to environmental adaptation solutions through rice cultivation on brackish water land. With this collaboration, participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also shared relevant practical experiences. (*/Rz) (IAAS/SNI)
