FEM IPB University and 10 Universities Form ASEAN University Network for Sustainable Food System
Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) IPB University together with 10 universities in Southeast Asian countries (Asean), agreed to form the ASEAN University Network for Sustainable Food System.
The ASEAN University Network for Sustainable Food System was formed to respond to various challenges and important issues in the global economy, especially related to the agriculture and food sector.
Dean of FEM IPB University, Dr Irfan Syauqi Beik stated that this agreement is a strategic step in strengthening collective efforts among universities at the ASEAN level, to develop a sustainable and integrated food system.
” Insyaalllah, this will be a joint platform that will consolidate all the strengths of ideas, thoughts, and research results in the Southeast Asian region. This platform will continue to be developed by involving more universities in all ASEAN member countries,” said Dr Irfan.
Currently, the issue of food availability, climate change conditions, aging population, and environmental degradation are challenges for the agricultural sector in ensuring production capacity that can meet the needs of the world community.
On the other hand, these conditions also require increasingly responsible food consumption behaviour, which is able to minimise food waste so that the use of existing resources can run efficiently.
With such complex challenges, the involvement of higher education institutions becomes even more crucial. For this reason, based on the spirit of the importance of consolidating education and research among higher education institutions in ASEAN, 11 universities from 8 countries agreed to hold the ASEAN University Symposium for Sustainable Food System in Bangkok, Thailand on 18-19 April 2024.
The eleven higher education institutions are Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) IPB University (Indonesia), FE Kasetsart University (Thailand), Faculty of Agriculture Chiang Mai University (Thailand), IPSR Mahidol University (Thailand), Faculty of Agriculture UPM (Malaysia), School of Economics Chan Tho University (Vietnam), School of Economics and Rural Development Vietnam National University of Agriculture (Vietnam), Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Agriculture National University of Laos (Laos), Faculty of Agriculture UNISSA (Brunei Darussalam), College of Economics and Management University of Philippines at Los Banos – UPLB (Philippines), and Department of Agricultural Economics Yezin Agricultural University (Myanmar).
For two days, academics, researchers and students from eleven institutions discussed how to increase food production sustainably, increase access to nutritious food efficiently, strengthen regional food supply chains, and analyse policies that can achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as No Poverty and Zero Hunger. Ultimately, the eleven institutions agreed to gather themselves in one line, called the ASEAN University Network for Sustainable Food System.
At the symposium, 31 papers were presented, and 5 of them came from lecturers and postgraduate students of FEM IPB University. From the assessment of the academic committee, it was decided that the Best Paper Award was given to Dr Lukytawati Anggraeni (Vice Dean of FEM for Resources, Cooperation and Development) and Lea Amalia, with a paper entitled The Impact of Climate Change on Indonesian Rice and Coffee Sectors.
In addition, Wini Wrismawati (Master Student in Resource and Environmental Economics) received the 3rd Honorable Mentions Award. In organising the second symposium in 2025, FEM IPB University is mandated to host it. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
