Minister Amran Urges UGM to Develop Frozen Semen Technology
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has urged Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to enhance research into agricultural development to support food security in Indonesia. He specifically called for the development of frozen semen technology and the crossbreeding of Belgian Blue and Brahman cattle to produce high-productivity livestock.
UGM, he said, must actively conduct research that directly benefits the community, rather than merely accumulating data. He made these remarks while receiving members of the UGM academic community at his residence in Jakarta on Monday (29/6/2026). The meeting was held to strengthen collaboration in accelerating agricultural innovation and downstreaming towards food self-sufficiency.
Amran stated that universities are strategic partners for the government in generating innovations that address the challenges facing the national agricultural sector. “Being a lecturer is the most enjoyable job because you can create exponential leaps. From campuses come innovation, technology, and the generation that will determine the nation’s future,” he said.
He added, “We need campuses, the government, and the business world to move forward together. Research outcomes must reach the community and provide tangible benefits to farmers.” Amran stressed that agricultural development cannot be undertaken by the government alone, requiring strong synergy between academia, government, and industry through a triple helix approach to ensure research does not stop at the laboratory but is truly applied in the field.
He also encouraged UGM to expand collaboration across various agricultural sub-sectors, including food crops, horticulture, plantations, and livestock. Specifically, Amran pushed for the development of strategic commodities such as soybeans and garlic to reduce import dependency, including strengthening garlic research in Temanggung, a major national production centre.
“Develop frozen semen and cattle crossbreeding to produce high productivity. This will be a major leap for Indonesian livestock,” he said. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the meeting was attended by the Rector of UGM, vice-rectors, deans, professors, researchers, heads of study centres, lecturers, and students from the agro cluster. UGM Rector Prof. Ova Emilia expressed readiness to support the ministry’s vision, stating that UGM’s spirit aligns with delivering impactful research for the community.