ULM commits to strengthening food security research

Banjarmasin — Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) has committed to strengthening research and innovation in the agricultural sector to support food security.

“ULM, as an accredited state tertiary institution with an excellent rating in South Kalimantan, has been designated by the government to contribute through the strengthening of research and innovation in the agricultural sector,” said ULM Rector Prof Ahmad Alim Bachri in Banjarmasin on Sunday.

He explained that ULM is one of 18 universities that will collaborate to support the government’s strategic agenda, particularly in the food security sector.

Through this joint agreement, ULM will work synergistically with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in strengthening research and innovation in agriculture.

The rector further outlined that one form of implementing the cooperation involves developing a programme to plant 100 hectares of maize and coffee commodities, which forms part of strengthening the research ecosystem and downstream processing of agricultural commodities.

He hopes that this collaboration will encourage the emergence of research-based innovations that not only increase agricultural productivity but also create added value through commodity downstream processing.

“Through this cross-ministry and national research agency collaboration, a resilient, sustainable, and research-based food system is created in Indonesia,” he added.

The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Kemdiktisaintek, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta, with the participation of 18 designated universities involved in supporting sustainable food self-sufficiency and agricultural commodity downstream processing in Indonesia.