Agriculture Minister Amran Opens Campus Research Funding to Accelerate Food Self-Sufficiency

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman is partnering with rectors and university leaders in eastern Indonesia to strengthen agricultural innovation, research, and technology. The collaboration is directed at accelerating the achievement of sustainable national food self-sufficiency. Amran conveyed this during an audience with university leaders in Jakarta on Sunday morning. In the meeting, he outlined the latest developments in the national agricultural sector, ranging from increased food production and strengthening of food reserves to a number of government breakthroughs in building food independence. “This meeting is a step to strengthen synergy between the government and universities in producing agricultural innovation and technology to accelerate the realisation of national food self-sufficiency,” Amran said. According to Amran, universities have a strategic role in delivering research-based solutions that can be directly felt by farmers. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture is opening wider collaboration space with campuses, both in research development, innovation, and the application of agricultural technology in the field. Rector of Tadulako University, Amar, appreciated Amran’s move to involve universities as strategic partners in national agricultural development. According to him, the meeting provided a comprehensive picture of the government’s policy direction in achieving food self-sufficiency. Amar said the discussion also emphasised strengthening cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and universities. This cooperation is expected to produce agricultural innovations and technologies that can accelerate the achievement of food independence. “The Minister provided support not only in the form of cooperation, but also funding for research and development for future food self-sufficiency,” said Amar. Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs at the Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie Institute of Technology (ITH), Andi Ilham Latunra, assessed that the meeting gave new spirit to campuses to be more active in technology-based agricultural development. “It truly provides innovation and gives us the spirit to develop eastern Indonesia and the whole of Indonesia through the agricultural sector,” said Ilham.