IPB University Invites Academics from Seven Countries to Learn About Agrifood Resilience in the Thousand Islands

Facing climate crisis and global uncertainty, IPB University through its Department of Management is organizing a summer course themed “Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Management Amid Global Uncertainty.”

The event, which will take place from August 11 to 22, 2025, will involve 30 participants from seven countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

One of the interesting sessions in this program is a field trip to the Thousand Islands National Park on Wednesday (8/20), specifically to Pramuka Island. 

Participants will be invited to see conservation facilities firsthand and learn how to plant seagrass, a marine plant that acts as a carbon sink, protects coastlines, and provides habitat for various marine life.

Chairman of the Department of Management at IPB University, Dr Eko Ruddy Cahyadi, emphasized that this program is designed to broaden academic horizons and build global networks.

“We want international students to gain in-depth learning experiences about resilience and sustainable agrifood management, which they can then apply in their respective countries,” he explained.

Dr Eko added that the Department of Management at IPB University is committed to expanding the scope of similar international programs in the future as a tangible contribution to addressing global food security challenges.

Chairman of the Pramuka Island National Park Section, Pitra, explained that maintaining the sustainability of marine ecosystems is not easy. “The approach we are promoting is communication and persuasion rather than strict enforcement of rules, especially when dealing with small communities,” he said in front of the participants.

Dean of the Faculty of Management Science at Songkhla Rajabhat University (SKRU) Thailand, Dr Pongsak, said that this experience opened new insights into sustainable management.

“The visit to the Thousand Islands National Park provided valuable experience on how a communication approach can support marine conservation. This is very relevant to the challenges of agrifood management in our country,” he said.

One participant from Rwanda added that conservation practices in Indonesia serve as inspiration that can be applied in his country. A similar sentiment was expressed by a participant from Myanmar, who had recently learned about the importance of seagrass for marine ecosystems. (**/dr) (IAAS/LAN)