Cross-Country Research Collaboration, Two IPB University Researchers Win International Frontiers Planet Prize
Two lecturers and researchers from IPB University’s Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof Damayanti Buchori and Prof Purnama Hidayat, have made Indonesia proud on the international scientific stage.
They were part of an international research collaboration with Dr Zia Mehrabi from the University of Colorado, United States, and 57 other scientists from various countries.
The results of this collaborative research successfully won the award as the International Champion in the 3rd edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize. This prestigious award provides an incentive of 1 million USD to the most innovative science project that offers real solutions for the sustainability of the Earth.
The Frontiers Planet Prize is organized by the Frontiers Research Foundation to encourage and accelerate scientific research that directly impacts planetary safety.
In this competition, winners are selected based on their contributions to advancing understanding of Earth systems and their efforts to provide concrete solutions to keep humanity within the planet’s safe boundaries.
Regarding this achievement, Prof Damayanti said that this accomplishment is proof of the extraordinary contribution of Indonesian scientists, especially from IPB University, in global research to save the future of planet Earth.
“This is a very unique experience, not only because of the cross-continental collaboration, but also because the data was collected from various countries that conducted their research independently and separately,” she said.
She explained that this research bridges Western science and local knowledge on a global scale. “Upon closer examination, there are ‘commonalities’ across the world that actually strengthen local agricultural practices, such as diversified agriculture like mixed cropping and integrated farming, which yield win-win solutions from both socio-economic and environmental perspectives,” she added.
The research they contributed has been published in the world-renowned science journal Science, titled “Farming Practices: Joint environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture.” (https://www.science.org/doi/
In this publication, the research team examined the benefits of agricultural diversification on environmental sustainability and social welfare. The study synthesized data from 24 studies in 11 countries involving a total of 2.655 farmers.
The results show that diversification strategies such as crop integration, livestock, water conservation, and biodiversity have a double positive impact. These strategies are able to improve food security and farmer welfare while preserving the ecosystem.
“Interestingly, the research findings conclude that combining multiple agricultural diversification strategies yields greater impacts than implementing a single strategy. This finding serves as a crucial foundation for developing policies that support sustainable agriculture,” added Prof Damayanti.
Prof Purnama also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the collaboration that produced the scientific article in the journal Science. According to him, this achievement has implications for global environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture.
“This experience further strengthens our commitment to continue our work and expand our collaboration networks with researchers at both national and international levels,” he said.
The involvement of Prof Damayanti Buchori and Prof Purnama Hidayat in this interdisciplinary research team reinforces IPB University’s position as a center of excellence in tropical sciences that actively contributes to the global agenda, including strategic issues such as climate change, biodiversity crisis, and global food security.
With the attainment of this international award, it is hoped that more Indonesian scientists will engage in global collaborations that have a tangible impact on society and the environment. (*/dr/Rz) (IAAS/NRA)
