SDG 2 – ZERO HUNGER
Nurturing Resilience and Well-being: Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Comprehensive Approach to Food Security, Sustainable Nutrition, and Hunger Alleviation
Top 200 Universities by THE Impact Rankings in 2023
“With 9.6 tons per hectare yield, PIAT UGM boosts East Java’s food security”
In order to support Indonesia’s food security, the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT) UGM introduced the climate-resistant Gamagora 7 rice variety which yields 9.6 tons per hectare and has already undergone market testing in East Java. Artificial harvesting research, initiated in 2014, is currently at the commercialization stage and has been implemented across several provinces, including Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and Yogyakarta.
Other technological innovations and research initiatives include a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering collaborating and Yogyakarta’s Barokah Makmur Women Farmers Group on sustainable fish farming, as well as the development of Simagen by UGM students, a supplement designed to boost livestock immunity against Foot and Mouth Disease.
“Food & Culture”
PIAT garden products, particularly vegetables, are regularly sold at Pasar Krempyeng Boge (Rebo Wage), a collaborative market held every Wednesday at the UGM Academic Hospital. The market serves both as a platform to commercialize PIAT’s products and as a means to support local small businesses and Women Farmers’ Groups. Through these collaborations with local agricultural and micro-enterprise sectors, UGM Academic Hospital demonstrates how collective efforts can generate impactful and sustainable solutions for both the environment and society.
PIAT also collaborates with PT East West Seed Indonesia in managing the Genetic Bank, which collects plant genetic resources from various regions in Indonesia and abroad. This research initiative aims not only to expand genetic diversity but also to preserve ex-situ plant genetic resources in order to prevent genetic erosion. Before being distributed to local farmers for propagation, these plants are first tested at PIAT. Through this collaboration, UGM contributes to maintaining the quality of food crops and, in turn, safeguarding the food security of local communities.
“Canteen Operations”
UGM has published the Practical Guidelines for Healthy Canteens at UGM to support campus healthy, safe, and nutritious food offerings. This commitment is in line with the issue of the double burden of malnutrition, underweight and overweight, caused by eating disorders and lifestyle. Gadjah Mada Medical Center provides guidelines through “Tumpeng Gizi Seimbang”, with four main pillars.
For instance, the canteen at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering maintains cleanliness and ensures food meets the “4 Sehat 5 Sempurna” criteria. The Faculty of Agricultural Technology canteen, reopened in 2023, offers health-focused, halal food options with modern touches like cashless payments and self-service, all while upholding strict hygiene with selected vendors.
These efforts highlight UGM’s commitment to promoting health through safe and accessible dining in their canteens. At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, you can find Vega Resto, a canteen providing affordable and diverse food choices from light snacks to full meals. All students, staff, and faculty who come to Vega Resto can access a variety of foods and balanced nutrition.
“Food Systems with Knowledge and Technology for Farmers”
Indonesia, a nation abundant in agricultural land and home to a vast farming community, faces a troubling paradox. Despite its potential, Indonesia ranks 77th out of 127 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), with a score of 16.9 percent, and 7.2 percent of its population suffers from undernourishment. This stark reality highlights the urgent need to bridge the gap between potential and performance in food production and distribution¹.
UGM is committed to addressing this challenge by providing local farmers and food producers with access to cutting-edge knowledge, skills, and technologies in sustainable agriculture and aquaculture:
- 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 solutions². Integrated with UGM’s Field Research Center, the Fab Lab addresses agricultural and livestock challenges using open innovation approaches.
- The International Training Center (ITC) Cage-Free Innovation and Welfare Hub, 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.
Quality Livestock and Seedlings
In Central Java, UGM partnered with the Brebes Livestock Office and PT Indo Prima Beef to improve the Jabres cattle breed, a cattle breed local to Brebes, via artificial insemination research. The research aims to produce 1,000 high-quality calves. On top of that, UGM also provides grass seedlings for soil preservation near Mount Slamet to prevent erosion on the mountain slopes that are used for cultivating potatoes. Quality seedlings and genetic breeds are vital for food security because they directly influence agricultural productivity, resilience, and sustainability. High-quality seedlings ensure healthy plant growth, higher yields, and resistance to pests, diseases, and adverse environmental conditions. Similarly, improved genetic breeds in livestock enhance productivity through better growth rates, higher reproduction efficiency, and resistance to diseases. Research on high quality food sources is currently ongoing at the Agrotechnology Innovation Center UGM. For example, PIAT introduced the climate-resistant Gamagora 7 rice which yielded 9.6 tons per hectare and has already undergone market testing in East Java. Other technology innovations and research initiatives include the Faculty of Engineering collaborating with Yogyakarta’s Barokah Makmur Women Farmers Group on sustainable fish farming and UGM students developing Simagen, a supplement to boost livestock immunity against Foot and Mouth Disease.
Agricultural Cultivation Technology
UGM provides access to food security knowledge through innovative agricultural cultivation technologies tailored to local needs. From introducing natural predators to control locust swarms in Sumba, reducing pesticide reliance, to developing pest-resistant rice varieties that minimize crop damage and boost yields, UGM empowers communities to enhance productivity sustainably. In Sleman, UGM promotes eco-friendly practices through area-based organic farming, whilst simultaneously designing an automatic sparrow deterrent from plastic waste to crops while addressing environmental concerns.
Agricultural Tools and Machinery
UGM has equipped local farmers with modern tools and machinery. Modern tools and machinery are able to boost efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture. They enable larger-scale farming, optimize resource use, and adapt to climate challenges, ensuring a stable and sufficient food supply. Through the Department of Agricultural Technology, UGM has provided essential agricultural equipment to the Sedyo Rukun farmers group in Gunung Kidul to boost productivity. Similarly, UGM provided advanced machinery to Madiun farmers³.
Training for farmers is crucial for food security as it equips them with the knowledge and skills to adopt modern, sustainable practices that increase productivity and resilience. It helps farmers optimize resources, manage risks like pests and climate change, and improve crop and livestock quality, ensuring a reliable food supply for communities. The UGM Digital Transformation and Innovation team trained farmers in Bantul on digital marketing. In Kulon Progo, UGM students held a workshop on organic fertilizer production to promote eco-friendly farming. Other programs include developing coffee agribusiness in Lampung Barat and providing packaging skills to SMEs to improve product marketability⁴.
UGM shares knowledge for farmers through initiatives such as the Student Community Service program, in which one of UGM’s units was deployed to North Maluku to support sustainable farming practice and maintain the genetic diversity of North Maluku as a spice region. Also in North Maluku, UGM is involved in the Kosmopolis Spice Development project to enhance spice farming productivity and biodiversity. UGM also works with Sleman district authorities to promote organic agriculture, emphasising its importance for long-term food security and policy influence. Furthermore, the Faculty of Animal Science trains farmers in livestock management, boosting sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
UGM organised training to improve food product marketability, such as packaging in March and diversifying food products with shallots in Gunung Kidul in October. In December, UGM supported poultry farmers in Sleman to improve egg quality and market access. Additionally, UGM students introduced nutmeg processing innovations in North Halmahera and conducted packaging and marketing training for small food businesses in Malangrejo. Furthermore, UGM’s efforts, such as assisting SMSEs in Sugian village with vacuum packaging, continue to support local businesses⁵.
Event for Local Farmer
UGM: A Hub for Farmer Collaboration and Agricultural Innovation
As one of Indonesia’s leading universities in sustainability, UGM demonstrates its commitment to empowering local farmers and food producers through events that foster knowledge transfer and collaboration. One key initiative was the UGM Agrotechnology Innovation Center Open House in September 2023, held at Berbah Garden, Sleman. The event, themed “The Role of Superior Seeds and Fertilizers in Supporting National Food Sovereignty,” aimed to promote food sovereignty by fostering collaboration between local farmers, industry partners, and academia. Another significant event was the Cage-Free Livestock Management Training organized by UGM’s Faculty of Animal Science in collaboration with Global Food Partners (GFP) and PT Lion Super Indo held in November 2023. This program aimed to promote sustainable egg production (without cages) and supported six egg suppliers to Superindo.
There were several programs that UGM already organized to tackle critical issues in the agriculture supply chain and food security. In September 2023, Pre-Departure Meeting for FabCamp, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. This initial gathering highlighted the interconnectedness of local and global agricultural challenges, laying a foundation for impactful, solutions-driven dialogue and action.Building on this momentum, UGM held the Capacity Building on Huanglongbing Management Workshop 2023, which served as a platform for comprehensive knowledge sharing and skill development. The workshop combined Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), indoor theory sessions, project meetings, and field visits to address the urgent need for effective huánglóngbìng (Citrus Greening Disease) management. By involving local farmers, agricultural extension officers, and plant pest control experts alongside six renowned specialists from Australia (representatives from NSW DPI, Citrus Australia, and Western Sydney University), the program bridged international expertise with local practices to secure the citrus industry’s future in Australia, China, and Indonesia.
Building on this momentum, UGM held the Capacity Building on Huanglongbing Management Workshop 2023, which served as a platform for comprehensive knowledge sharing and skill development. The workshop combined Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), indoor theory sessions, project meetings, and field visits to address the urgent need for effective huánglóngbìng (Citrus Greening Disease) management. By involving local farmers, agricultural extension officers, and plant pest control experts alongside six renowned specialists from Australia (representatives from NSW DPI, Citrus Australia, and Western Sydney University), the program bridged international expertise with local practices to secure the citrus industry’s future in Australia, China, and Indonesia.