The Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has attracted significant international attention through its Municipal Waste Management: Workshop and Field Trip – Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Waste Solutions. Scheduled to take place from 20–26 July 2026, the program received an overwhelming response, attracting 408 applicants from 42 countries, with only 25 participants selected through a highly competitive selection process.
Yogyakarta – The Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through the involvement of one of its faculty members in an industrial-scale oil palm biomass waste management project.
Dr. Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Head of the Laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, was invited by Winrock International to participate in the Industrial-Scale Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Composting Pilot Project Field Visit, held from 30 June to 3 July 2026 at Trubus Sentra Agrobisnis (TSA) in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The establishment of a DNA Synthesizer at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), represents a significant step in strengthening the university’s research infrastructure. This initiative has been spearheaded by Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Ph.D., who has played a key role in advancing molecular biology and biotechnology research within the department. Under his leadership, the Department of Agricultural Microbiology continues to expand its research capacity by providing cutting-edge facilities that support the development of microbiology, molecular biology, agricultural biotechnology, and related scientific fields.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again deployed students through the Community Service and Community Empowerment Learning Program (KKN-PPM) Period II of 2026 as part of the university’s commitment to supporting community development through science-based approaches. One of the KKN units, supervised by Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Ph.D., a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, will conduct its community engagement activities in Padaherang Village and Paledah Village, Padaherang District, Pangandaran Regency, West Java.
Thousands of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have officially begun their community engagement journey through the Community Service and Community Empowerment Learning Program (KKN-PPM) Period II of 2026. Following the official deployment ceremony conducted by the university, students were dispatched to various regions across Indonesia to implement community empowerment programs for approximately 50 days.
One of the KKN units assigned to the Province of West Nusa Tenggara will carry out its activities in Kuta Village and Mertak Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency. The unit is supervised by Susanti Mugi Lestari, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), through the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, is once again offering an opportunity for international students to participate in the Municipal Waste Management: Workshop and Field Trip 2026 program. This program is part of the implementation of UGM’s Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN), which promotes a collaborative approach involving academics, international students, and local communities in supporting sustainable community-based waste management. The international program will be held from 20–26 July 2026 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, under the theme “Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Waste Solutions.”
As part of efforts to strengthen student engagement in community empowerment and agricultural development, the Social Affairs Department of PERMAHAMI (Agricultural Microbiology Student Association), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a community outreach program entitled “Sapa Bumi, Rembug Tani”. The activity was conducted in collaboration with Agro Mulya Eco Farm, a local farming community located in Kalasan, Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The program served as a platform for students and farmers to exchange experiences, knowledge, and best practices in sustainable agriculture. Through this collaborative approach, students were not only able to gain valuable learning experiences beyond the classroom but also had the opportunity to contribute directly to community development.
International academic engagement plays an important role in expanding research networks, enhancing scientific capacity, and strengthening collaboration among researchers across countries. Through visiting researcher programs, academics have opportunities to exchange knowledge, develop joint research projects, and learn from diverse scientific approaches implemented at partner institutions. Such activities also contribute to the development of innovative research with global relevance and impact.
The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), continues to strengthen its international research collaborations through participation in the Plant Protein Plus Network UK–Southeast Asia (3PUKSEA). As part of this initiative, Prof. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture UGM, took part in a series of academic and industry engagement activities in the United Kingdom in April 2026. The program, titled “Plant Protein Plus Network UK–SE Asia (3PUKSEA): Multi-disciplinary Collaboration for Plant Protein Research and Innovation Network between the UK and Southeast Asia,” focuses on developing sustainable plant-based protein sources through international research partnerships (https://3puksea.io.vn/index.php/news-events/visits-the-uk-2026).
Dr. Desi Utami, a lecturer from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was invited as a speaker at the scientific forum entitled “Harmonized Biosafety Assessment and Sustainable Agriculture: Accelerating Innovation with Impact for Indonesian Smallholders.” The event was organized by CropLife Indonesia in collaboration with the Indonesian Biotechnology Consortium and Lab Indonesia, and was held at ICE BSD City on April 17, 2026.
