Maluku Governor: ICESAS 2026 a Platform for Collaborative Research to Support Regional Development
AMBON (ANTARA) – Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa said the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, and Sustainability (ICESAS) 2026 would provide a platform for collaborative research to support regional development in environmental management, agricultural development and food security.
“I want the international cooperation undertaken by Pattimura University to become an opportunity for joint research, the exchange of expertise, technology transfer and practical programmes whose benefits can be felt by the public,” Lewerissa said when opening ICESAS 2026 in Central Maluku on Wednesday.
He said cooperation between the government, universities, businesses and communities was needed to produce development solutions suited to regional needs and focused on sustainability.
In his view, the environment, agriculture and sustainability are interconnected aspects of meeting people’s needs today without compromising the interests of future generations.
“The environment, agriculture and sustainability are not three separate things. They are interconnected and determine how we meet today’s needs without sacrificing the lives of future generations,” he said.
Lewerissa explained that Maluku, an archipelagic province, is rich in marine and coastal ecosystems, tropical forests and diverse agricultural potential. These resources should be developed through research and innovation to add value to the economy and improve public welfare.
However, the use of natural resources must also be balanced with efforts to protect the environment. Research and scientific studies are therefore needed as a basis for formulating appropriate and sustainable development policies.
He stressed that universities, particularly Pattimura University’s postgraduate programme, had a strategic role as partners to the Maluku Provincial Government in strengthening development planning and implementation based on data and scientific evidence.
“Academics’ contributions are needed to support responsible natural-resource management, increase agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and ensure that the benefits of development are shared fairly by the public,” he said.
He hoped ICESAS 2026 would go beyond an exchange of knowledge among academics and produce recommendations and research partnerships that could be put into practice to address real challenges in the archipelagic region.
The international conference, organised by Pattimura University’s postgraduate programme, was also attended by the university’s postgraduate director, representing the rector; representatives of the Indonesian Forum of Postgraduate Leaders; university leaders and academic staff; and keynote speakers.