Yogyakarta, November 5, 2025 – The Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a guest lecture in the Agricultural Economics course. The lecture focused on the theme “The Concept of Sustainable Value Chains in Agriculture,” featuring Dr. Adhitya Marendra Kiloes, a Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Queensland.
In his lecture, Dr. Adhitya emphasized the importance of integrating economic, social, and environmental aspects, known as the triple bottom line principle, as a strategy for achieving a sustainable value chain in the agricultural sector. Students were encouraged to understand how to manage agricultural value chains efficiently and inclusively through innovation, public-private partnerships, and technology, adding value for businesses, communities, and the environment, and achieving resilient, climate-adaptive agriculture.
“Agricultural value chain development is not just about efficiency; it is about empowerment, inclusion, and sustainability.”
Dr. Adhitya also explained that there are still many challenges in building a sustainable value chain in Indonesia, such as market price volatility, limited access to financing and technology, post-harvest losses, environmental degradation, and weak institutional coordination. Cross-sector collaboration, capacity building for farmers, and policy support for circular and sustainable agricultural practices are needed.
This guest lecture is one of the activities in the 2025 Impactful Campus Competition Program (PKKB) from the Higher Education Database Center (PDDIKTI), which aims to improve the quality of learning based on current development issues and strengthen student contributions in realizing a more inclusive, efficient, and environmentally friendly agricultural system and agribusiness development.
This activity also contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely: SDG 2: Zero Hunger – supporting productive and sustainable agricultural systems; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – strengthening the rural economy through inclusive value chains; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – promoting efficiency and sustainable resource management; SDG 13: Climate Action – supporting climate change mitigation efforts through sustainable agricultural practices.
Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM