The Global Network of Lighthouse Farm is a program that connects farmers, academics, researchers and agricultural activists from various parts of the world initiated by Wageningen University of Research (WUR) Netherlands. At the 9th meeting of this annual activity, WUR and Lighthouse Farm Academy in collaboration with the Global Academic Engagement Universitas Brawijaya and the Faculty of Agriculture UB held an international workshop on Research Collaboration which was opened at the 8th floor of UB Rectorate Building, Monday (5/8/2024).
The five-day event was attended by 42 participants from 14 countries, including Europe, America, Columbia, Spain, Cuba, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kurdistan, Serbia and Asia.
The chairman of the committee, Muhamad Akhir Syib’li S.P., M.P., Ph.D., said that the activity that took place in Indonesia started online in March and continued face-to-face on (5/8-9/8/2024).
For approximately five to six days, participants from various countries received materials, discussed, learned about agricultural techniques, cultivation, and pest and disease control.
“In addition to gaining theoretical knowledge, participants were invited to go directly to the field in Kepanjen, Blitar and Mojokerto farms to recognize and experience firsthand the practice of agricultural systems that are considered unique to learn,” he said.
With the workshop activities and research collaborations from various global institutions, it is hoped that it can strengthen UB’s cooperation in the international world
Dr. Uma Khumairoh, SP., M.Sc, one of the researchers from UB who was also a speaker at the event, said that together with researchers from Waginengen University of Research, we were invited to think about how to create a sustainable rice production system called Complex rice systems.
“Rice is the staple food of the Indonesian people and is very important for us, so as a researchers we think about how to develop rice for food security, but on the other hand also maintain the sustainability of an environmentally friendly rice planting system,” he said.
The UB researcher gave an example of the traditional rice planting system used by our ancestors with the use of azolla, fish, and ducks can help inhibit weeds and control pests. This is a form of local wisdom with a unique sustainable system and this can be reapplied, complemented, collaborated with today’s modern system.
Prof. Mangku Purnomo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D. Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UB said that this activity is a joint learning process between the world farmer network and university researchers, in the future it is expected to find a kind of agricultural system model that can be applied in agriculture in the world including Indonesia, to increase the productivity and welfare of farmers.
“This is a network between farmers who have farming, academics and agricultural activists to build a research system on how to find the best solution, the best technology, and the best model to develop agriculture in the world that is relatively friendly to natural resources,” said the dean of FP.
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Imam Santoso, MP. welcomed this event. According to him, this activity is a workshop to provide an understanding of sustainable agriculture and how to optimize agricultural products through sustainable agricultural management.
“Hopefully this activity will continue to increase UB’s position as an organizer, because this is an international activity that can improve our reputation in the international world,” he said.
He added that this activity can contribute to increase agricultural production, on the other hand this event is useful for embracing stakeholders in the world together to develop sustainable agriculture.
At the end of the event, Friday (9/8/2024) in UB Faculty of Agriculture building, it was closed by cutting the tumpeng to launch the Lighthouse Farms Academy program as a form of collaboration between UB Faculty of Agriculture and WUR.
Vice Dean 1 for Academic Affairs FP, Dr. Afifuddin Latif Adiredjo, S.P., M.Sc., said that the running and completion of the activity was a moment for developing human resources and improving the academic atmosphere. The program will be adapted and integrated with the Faculty of Agriculture program so that FP UB will continue to be a partner in the Lighthouse Farm Program, both those running in Indonesia and in other countries.
“There are two main points, first Wageningen is the world champion in agriculture, it is a representation of FP resources UB is recognized worldwide. Secondly, we do not want the one-week activity to stop here, we want this collaboration to continue,” he said. (KAN/OKY/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
