IPB University Represents Indonesia at TEEBAgriFood Global Symposium, Thailand
IPB University represented Indonesia attending The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food Initiative (TEEBAgriFood) Global Symposium at the United Nations Conference Center, Bangkok, Thailand (7-9/11). Present at this forum was Prof R Nunung Nuryartono, Team Leader of TEEBAgriFood Indonesia, as well as Professor of IPB University from the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM).
“There are three main agendas at this symposium, namely country presentations and discussions, project impact workshops, and plenary discussions related to the application of the TEEBAgriFood framework,” said Prof R Nunung.
The workshop activities focused on two topics, namely food system transformation by applying research results and transformation of decision-making through the TEEB approach.
“This activity is also complemented by country exchange sessions that discuss current issues related to climate change mitigation, social welfare, health benefits, and agricultural costs,” he said.
Other issues discussed included trade systems, integrated farming systems (agroforestry and agropastoral), ecosystem services, deforestation-free supply chains, agroecology, and organic farming.
The TEEBAgriFood or Ecosystem Economics and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food Initiative in Indonesia aims to protect biodiversity and contribute to a more sustainable agriculture and food sector.
The event was the culmination of a five-year EU partnership through the TEEBAgriFood project that has been implemented in the partner countries of Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand.
The TEEBAgriFood Global Symposium brings together representatives from ministries of agriculture, environment and other national agencies, officials of United Nations (UN) agencies and the European Union. It also involves research teams and civil society organizations, as well as other relevant stakeholders and experts from across the region and the world.
“The main objective of the forum was to discuss the implications of the project results for the application of true cost accounting in public and private decision-making for sustainable food systems in biodiverse countries,” said Dr Salman Hussain, TEEB Coordinator.
The chair of the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also explained that the aim of the symposium is to enhance international relations as a platform to promote, share, and collaborate in order to determine investments, policies, programs, incentives or regulations that can enhance agricultural sustainability and transform food systems to advance the 2030 Agenda.
Also present were representatives from other IPB University research teams, namely, Prof Suria Darma Tarigan (Department of Soil Science and Land Resources), Dr Supijatno (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture), Dr Pini Wijayanti (Department of Economics and Environmental Resources), and Dr Yanti Nuraeni Muflikh (Department of Agribusiness). (*/Rz) (IAAS/MZS)
