Discussion at IPB: Agrologistics Becomes the Key to National Food Security
In an effort to guarantee national food availability, the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Postgraduate School in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Supply Chain and Logistics (ISLI) held the 2nd National Seminar and Congress with the theme "Agrologistics 4.0: Opportunities and Challenges in the Digital Era". This seminar was held at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC) IPB, Bogor (18/9).
The aim of the seminar and congress activities was examining various developments in agrological thinking from various fields from academics, policy makers, and business people and contributing strategic thinking in order to improve the competitiveness of national agrologistics.
Committee Chairperson, Dr. Heti Mulyati, STP. MT., Said that the supply chain is increasingly complex and dynamic, the competition is getting tighter, and the demand for companies and consumers to improve logistics needs to be taken seriously.
"Indonesian agricultural products which are perishable and seasonal, need to get serious attention, especially in relation to agrologistics," said Dr. Heti in his speech.
Vice Rector for Education and Student Affairs of IPB, Dr. Drajat Martianto, M.Sc., confirmed the current agrologistics conditions in Indonesia. According to him, a third of food loss in Indonesia occurs due to logistical factors and the redundant behavior of the community.
"To promote Indonesian agriculture, there are four important things that must be addressed by all parties. That is easily damaged agricultural products, island countries that need good logistics, demographic issues, and season factors," said Dr. Drajat.
He said, all these issues are related to agrologistics in Indonesia. If the agrologistic problem can be addressed, the above problems can be solved as well. Considering the important agrologistic issues in the future, he hopes that the results of the seminar and congress this time can be applied consistently by the parties concerned and do not let the effort to advance national agrologistics stop halfway.
Meanwhile, Ir. Musdhalifah Machmud, MT., Deputy for Food and Agriculture Coordination, Ministry Coordinator for Economic Affairs in his presentation stated that poor agrologistics is the key to the chaotic Indonesian food security.
"Agrologistics is not only limited to the distribution of agricultural products, but also involves postharvest processing, storage and packaging. Hopefully, through this seminar and congress, it can produce superior and competent human resources in the field of agrologistics," said Musdhalifah.
As an effort to overcome the agrologistic problem, the solution that can be done is to implement an integrated agricultural logistics system. There are several ways that can be done to realize an integrated agricultural logistics system, which is to build a supply chain that is traceable, fair and sustainable (with a participatory system of all relevant stakeholders, and the creation of shared value), not only involving State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), but need involving the private sector to become champions in providing integrated postharvest management services, warehousing services, financing, quality testing, agricultural insurance, commodity procurement, and marketing in villages. (RYS)
