Regina Claudia, an Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program student, is one of eight participants in the SUIJI-SLP Program representing UGM. The Six University Initiative Japan-Indonesia Service Learning Program (SUIJI-SLP) is a collaborative program between 3 universities in Indonesia (UGM, IPB, and Unhas) with 3 universities in Japan (Ehime University, Kagawa University, and Kochi University).

Regina said that the SUIJI program offers the opportunity to learn directly from the local community to understand their cultural values and lifestyles. “It turns out that learning Japanese culture directly from the Japanese people is mindful and meaningful!” she said.

The selection process for this program includes filling out forms, collecting transcripts, and interviews with professors and professors at FTP. Regina admitted that initially did not have high expectations, even registering only to try. However, the results exceeded her expectations. She is grateful for the opportunity and feels this program provides invaluable experience.

Regina was placed at Ehime University in Matsuyama, Japan, in this program, and underwent service-learning activities in Ainan-cho. The program runs from September 5 to 25, 2024. The first days were spent at the host university, staying in a typical Japanese shared house that reminded her of Doraemon’s house. During those three days, she attended lectures from the sensei and prepared for field activities.

After that, Regina and the other participants departed for Ainan-cho by bus. At this location, they were directly involved in various community activities. One of Regina’s memorable moments was meeting the Indonesian diaspora in Ainan and cooking Indonesian food for the locals. “It was so much fun!” she said enthusiastically.

Regina hopes that more students will be interested in joining this program in the future. “I hope this program can be a good stepping stone for UGM agro cluster students to increase their knowledge and skills while they are still students,” she concluded. Through the SUIJI-SLP program, Regina not only learned about Japanese culture and society but also found deep meaning in service-based learning. This experience is proof that active involvement in an international program can broaden horizons and enrich a student’s academic journey.

On December 5, 2024, the Auditorium of the Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) became the venue for a discussion and screening of a documentary film that raised important issues related to Indonesian food security. The event was organized by UGM Channel, with the documentary film title “Behind the Food Barn: Aren’t We Already Capable Enough to Face It?”.

This documentary film examines how people on the outermost islands of Indonesia struggle to maintain their food sovereignty with the challenges of globalization and climate change. After the screening of the film, an in-depth discussion was held. One of the discussion initiators at the event was Prof. Dr. Jamhari, S.P., M.P. as a professor from the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program UGM who is also known as an expert in the field of food security.

As the discussion initiator, Prof. Jamhari provided critical insights regarding strategic solutions to overcome dependence on one type of food group with local food diversification. He added that optimizing local food diversity in various regions can support increasing food production in addition to rice-based food estates.

This discussion is an important forum for students, academics, and the general public to exchange ideas and find solutions to existing food problems. This event is expected to open the public’s eyes to the importance of attention to the agricultural and agribusiness sectors as the main pillars in ensuring strong food security for Indonesia. In addition, the contribution of Prof. Dr. Jamhari, S.P., M.P. is a form of support for sustainable development goals, especially SDG 2, which is ending hunger.

Students of the 2022 Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program conducted an Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum in Gunung Kidul Regency on November 1-4, 2024. The activity aims to provide students with information on the socio-economic conditions of farmers in Gunungkidul Regency through surveys and direct interviews with farmers.

The Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum has a series of activities that allow students to have reliable academic abilities. After conducting field practicums by interviewing farmers, students then write the results of their studies in the form of a scientific report containing the general conditions of the area, characteristics of respondents, analysis of social conditions, analysis of costs, income, profits of farming businesses and the level of farmer welfare. This is expected to provide students with an overview of the portrait of farming businesses in Gunung Kidul Regency and the conditions of farmers’ households. To facilitate the implementation of the practicum, students are accompanied by a practicum assistant and a supervisor. The series of practicum activities are closed with an exam with a lecturer in the form of a presentation of the results of the analysis.

Watch a clip of the excitement of the 2024 Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum HERE

With the spirit of international collaboration, the EPA Study Program implements case-based learning in the agribusiness management course. The implementation of case-based learning is carried out to prepare EPA Study Program students to face global challenges. The class involves students from three countries, namely Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. They succeeded in formulating innovative solutions to actual problems in the agribusiness sector.

The activity, which was held on November 26, 2024, carried two main themes, namely production risk management and human resource management. Students were divided into two large groups to explore each theme. By using a case-based learning approach, they were required to analyze real cases in the agribusiness industry, formulate problems, and design effective solutions from three countries, namely Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.

Each presentation was followed by an in-depth discussion. Students from various countries exchanged ideas and provided input on the ideas that had been presented. Differences in origin and cultural background are a strength in producing innovative and comprehensive solutions.

This case-based learning activity is a manifestation of the EPA Study Program’s commitment to supporting sustainable development goals, especially the fourth point, namely quality education. This activity not only increases students’ knowledge of current issues in the agribusiness sector but also trains them to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively.

On November 5, 2024, the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program successfully achieved “UNGGUL” Accreditation from BAN-PT (National Accreditation Board for Higher Education). The accreditation was determined based on the Decree of BAN-PT Number 6549/SK/BAN-PT/Ak.KP/S/XI/2024 concerning the Conversion of Accreditation Rankings for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program in the Undergraduate Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman Regency. This accreditation is valid from November 5, 2024 – July 10, 2029. This achievement proves the commitment of the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4, namely quality education.

Congratulations to the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program for its achievements. May it always develop to improve the quality of education in Indonesia.

The Decree and Certificate of Superior Accreditation for the EPA Study Program can be accessed via the following link.

1. BAN-PT Decree Number 6549/SK/BAN-PT/Ak.KP/S/XI/2024
2. Excellent Accreditation Certificate for EPA Study Program 2024-2029

On October 29, 2024, the UGM Faculty of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Kana Cooperative and the Agam Regency Government, held counseling for sugarcane farmers in Kanagarian Lawang and Kebagarian Tigo Balai, Matur District. The event, which was held at the Lawang Village Head Office, aimed to introduce a new, more efficient method of planting sugarcane using the ringpit technique.

Low productivity and yield, as well as limited sugarcane supply, are problems faced by all sugarcane farmers. This has an impact on the less-than-satisfactory income of sugarcane farmers. Not only that, but the performance of the sugar industry, which relies on supplies from community sugarcane, is also not optimal. The low productivity and yield are caused by substandard cultivation techniques. The use of suboptimal inputs has an impact on low productivity and sugarcane yield. Therefore, the ringpit technique is a solution to increase the efficiency of water and nutrient absorption.

According to Prof. Dr. Ir. According to Prof. Dr. Irham, M.Sc as a Lecturer at EPA UGM and also Head of the Extension Team of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, the ringpit technique can increase the efficiency of water and nutrient absorption from sugarcane plants so that the productivity of the plants also increases. Prof. Dr. Ir. Irham, M.Sc. hopes that this technique can be adopted and can provide benefits to sugarcane farmers in Agam Regency. Therefore, this collaborative activity is expected to support the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially point 1, which is ends poverty.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program held a guest lecture on agribusiness management with the topic of neuroscience applications in neuromarketing. The resource person in this guest lecture was Bambang Iman Santoso, a neuro-enthusiast and Co-Founder of the Neuronesia Learning Center (NLC) at PT Neuronesia Neurosains Indonesia. The application of neuroscience in marketing is one of the important sciences that should be studied by an agricultural marketer because this science can perfect existing marketing science.

Neuromarketing is a science that studies the brain’s response to advertising and branding, and adjusting marketing messages based on feedback to get a better response. Neuromarketing not only pays attention to how marketing messages reach the recipient but also considers the recipient’s response and how the recipient’s brain works to get feedback on the marketing process that has been carried out. Mr. Bambang explained the importance of neuromarketing in agribusiness based on scientific articles from Schukat et al. (2021) and Rabu et al. (2022). Neuromarketing is important for the agribusiness sector because it can provide various benefits such as:

1. Understanding consumer preferences more deeply
2. Increasing the effectiveness of visuals and packaging
3. Building loyalty through emotions
4. Minimizing the risk of new product failure
5. Optimizing pricing and promotional offers
6. Increasing the effectiveness of marketing strategies
7. Predicting purchasing decisions
8. Increasing product development and appeal
9. Addressing global health challenges
10. Expanding social acceptance
11. Sustainability and brand loyalty
12. Competitive advantage in niche markets

Mr. Bambang added that the brain has a tendency to like something new (novelty), but also dislikes something that is too new. In this case, marketers can create products that satisfy consumers by considering the character of the brain.

This guest lecture on neuromarketing is one of the new things for the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program. The guest lecture is expected to improve the quality of EPA Study Program graduates. The implementation of this guest lecture is a form of contribution from the EPA Study Program to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially point 4, namely quality education.

On October 17, 2024, the Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held the second International Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Socioeconomics, Agribusiness, and Rural Development (ICSASARD). This international conference was held to support the transformation of essential sectors to create a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous society.

ICSASARD 2024 covers 7 issues, including
1. Low Emission Development (LED) for sustainable agriculture
2. Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for sustainable agriculture
3. Climate change and natural resources resilience for food systems
4. Sustainable food value chain
5. Food and nutrition security
6. Social transformation towards sustainable food system
7. Inclusive Rural Development

Academics welcomed ICSASARD 2024. This can be seen from the seminar participants who came from various countries, including Mozambique, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Ecuador, Hungary, and Japan. In addition, the speakers at ICSASARD were academics from various countries including Japan, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

One of the students in the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program at UGM became the best presenter. Nadya Mangesti succeeded in becoming the best presenter in the Inclusive Rural Development class with her presentation entitled “The “Dadi Wong” Philosophy: A Glimpse into Yogyakarta Farmers and Their Hopes for Regeneration”. Nadya studied the perception of parents in farming households towards agriculture as a profession for their children based on the Javanese philosophy of “dadi wong” in Serat Wedhatama and developed a strategic model to support farmer regeneration.

The implementation of The 2nd ICSASARD is a form of implementation of several points of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), including:
1. SDGs 1: no poverty.
2. SDGs 2: no hunger.
3. SDGs 3: healthy and prosperous lives.
4. : SDGs 4: quality education.
5. SDGs 7: clean and affordable energy.
6. SDGs 8: decent work and economic growth.
7. SDGs 10: reduced inequality.
8. SDGs 11: sustainable cities and settlements.
9. SDGs 12: responsible consumption and production.
10. SDGs 13: addressing climate change.

Hello #SobatEPA!

Do you know about the Fast Track Program? The Fast Track Program is an accelerated study program for undergraduate students (S1) to be able to continue to the master’s level (S2) so that they can complete their undergraduate (S1) and master’s (S2) studies in just 5 years! Interesting, isn’t it?

The Fast Track Program is open to all students of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture who are interested in continuing their studies in the master’s program at the UGM Faculty of Agriculture. There are two Master’s Programs in the UGM Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics, namely a Master of Agricultural Economics and a Master of Agribusiness Management.

The existence of this Fast Track Program is an effort to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 4, namely quality education.

For #SobatEPA who are interested in participating in the Fast Track Program, let’s look at the terms and conditions for registering for the Fast Track program via HERE then register yourself via Registration for Fast Track Genap 2024

Prof. Jamhari, a distinguished expert in the Socio-Economics of Agriculture at UGM, was a key figure at the 8th Indonesian Palm Oil Research Week 2024. The event was held on 3-4 October 2024 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC). The theme of the event was “Green Gold: Transforming Palm Oil Industry through Cutting-Edge Technologies”. This event is expected to introduce the latest research innovations on palm oil to stakeholders in the palm oil industry, such as the government, private sector, academics, and the wider community.

In the event attended by 700 participants, there was a seminar divided into six sessions, one of which was a social/economic/management/market/ICT topic session with the theme “Strengthening the Palm Oil Industry from the Aspect of Competitiveness and Sustainability”. Prof. Jamhari was present as a resource person in the seminar with material entitled “Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Palm Oil Plantations in Indonesia”. According to Prof. Jamhari, efforts to increase palm oil production can be done by increasing the area of ​​land so that the number of plants that produce more and the age of the plants is higher. However, technical efficiency can be done to increase palm oil production without increasing the area of ​​land. Increasing technical efficiency can be done through education and training as well as strengthening the institution of farmer group cooperatives.

Prof. Jamhari’s contribution to the 8th Indonesian Palm Oil Research Week 2024 is an application in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 17 (partnerships to achieve goals).