Former President SBY Delivers Four Fundamental Points at the 50th Anniversary of the Agricultural Economics Study Program at IPB University

The 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), delivered four important messages on the direction of agricultural economic development in a public lecture commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Graduate Program in Agricultural Economics (EPN), Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University, on Wednesday (11/6).

In his lecture entitled “What Can Agriculture Do for the Economy in Indonesia,” SBY emphasized four main strategies for agricultural economic development, namely contribution to economic growth, prosperity, sustainability, and social justice. According to him, these four principles are universal and relevant across time and countries.

“In the past, economic development was always taught to be human-oriented, but now it must be complemented with an orientation towards the environment,” he said. He emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector’s role in creating prosperity for the community, creating jobs, and maintaining national economic sustainability.

The Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria, in his speech expressed his appreciation for the presence of two national figures, SBY and the Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of the National Development Planning Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (PPN/Bappenas). He emphasized that the future of Indonesia’s economic growth will greatly depend on the strength of research and innovation, entrepreneurship, and the quality of human capital.

“Indonesia is currently ranked 55th in the Global Innovation Index. The higher a country’s global innovation index, the higher its GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. Therefore, it is important for the agricultural economy to continue to offer new perspectives and solutions to current and future challenges,” explained Arif.

He also revealed the new direction of IPB University’s innovation, which is now transforming from an Industry 4.0-based research approach to Society 5.0, emphasizing the integration of precision, sustainability, humanity, and resilience.

Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of Bappenas, Prof Rachmat Pambudy, emphasized that the direction of development in President Prabowo’s era is very clear. The government’s main programs are clearly focused on food, energy, and water. “The President has been thinking about agricultural and food programs since he served as chairman of HKTI (Indonesian Farmers Association),” he concluded.

The organizing chair, Prof Yusman Syaukat, stated that the 50th anniversary of the EPN Graduate Program is expected to strengthen the role of agricultural economics in creating applicable and beneficial research for society.

Since its establishment, this program has produced more than 500 doctors and 1.000 masters who are active in various sectors, both in Indonesia and abroad. This program is one of the pioneers in the development of national agricultural science and policy, while also supporting food security, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

The 50th anniversary of the EPN program is an occasion for reflection and reaffirmation of the commitment to strengthen collaboration between the government, universities, and professional organizations in facing the challenges of globalization, digitalization, and climate change. (dh) (IAAS/KDP)