Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) empowers local farmers and food producers by providing access to innovative facilities and technology. Through initiatives like the free-to-use Fab Lab and Agrotechnology Innovation Center, as well as paid services such as food product analysis and lab rentals, UGM bridges academic research with practical solutions. These efforts support sustainable farming practices, enhance productivity, and promote ethical agriculture, demonstrating UGM’s commitment to community developing sustainable farming practices.
Free University Facilities
Access to labs and technology
In collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), UGM has established a Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) in Kulonprogo to support local farmers and food producers through innovative solutions. Integrated with UGM’s Field Research Center, the Fab Lab addresses agricultural and livestock challenges using open innovation approaches. It offers tools for cost-effective prototyping, enabling farmers to develop solutions tailored to local needs while fostering sustainability through recycling and low-carbon practices. Activities like the 2022 Ideathon engage students, farmers, and startups to create practical innovations in smart agriculture, goat milk production, and wood pellets. Farmers have embraced the Fab Lab as a problem-solving hub, with local leaders highlighting its potential to boost the economy and modernize farming practices. By connecting academic expertise with community needs, UGM makes technology and innovation accessible, empowering farmers and attracting younger generations to agriculture.
Another lab accessible for free is the International Training Center (ITC) Cage-Free Innovation and Welfare Hub, which was established by the UGM Faculty of Animal Science in partnership with Global Food Partners and AERES University in the Netherlands. It is ASEAN’s first cage-free poultry training facility. Located in Sleman, Yogyakarta, it serves as a model farm with a 3,000-bird cage-free system, training farmers, students, and stakeholders in sustainable and humane poultry practices. The ITC also supports government and industry representatives from Indonesia and abroad to meet the growing demand for ethically produced poultry products.
Access to plant stock and fertilizer
Labs are not the only services that UGM provides for local farmers. At the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT UGM), UGM innovated and now distributes the Super Smart Fertilizer (SSF). This fertilizer has demonstrated impressive results in increasing tea production up to threefold. The fertilizer, provided to plasma farmers working in partnership with community-owned plantations, has shown significant yield improvements, with some areas producing up to 1,800 kg of tea buds per hectare in a single harvest.
Paid University Facilities
There are many more facilities available to support local food producers, though they are not free.
The Public Service Testing Laboratory (LUPS) assists various stakeholders in providing food product analysis to ensure the safety, quality, and compliance of food with standards.
For those who wish to conduct research but lack the instruments, the lab at the Center for Food and Nutrition Studies can be rented by both UGM-affiliated and external users. The process requires completing a registration form and submitting it to the PSPG administration office. The laboratory operates during regular hours (08:00-16:00), with additional fees for overtime.
For those who need assistance with sample analysis of food or agriculture products, the Center for Food and Nutrition Studies provides these services. Clients can submit samples either by bringing them directly to the PSPG Administration Office or by mailing them along with a cover letter that details the sample’s information. After registration, clients will receive a sample submission form that must be presented when collecting the analysis results.
References:
- https://fablabjogja.ditpui.ugm.ac.id/en/prototyping/
- https://fablabjogja.ditpui.ugm.ac.id/en/training/
- https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/fakultas-peternakan-ugm-meresmikan-international-training-center-cage-free-innovation-and-welfare-hub/
- https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/piat-ugm-luncurkan-pupuk-super-cerdas-mampu-tingkatkan-produksi-teh-hingga-tiga-kali-lipat/
- https://lab-uji.tphp.ugm.ac.id/https://lab-uji.tphp.ugm.ac.id/
- https://cfns.ugm.ac.id/pendaftaran-2/
- https://cfns.ugm.ac.id/analisis-sampel/