EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) launched an international book and held a seminar titled Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Asia: Towards Climate Resilience and Digitalization at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium on Thursday (February 20, 2026). The event formed part of cross-border academic collaboration within the ASEAN region to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture and food security amid the climate crisis and digital transformation.
The book was edited by UPNVJ Rector Prof. Anter Venus, together with Prof. Raja Rasiah and Nur Annizah Ishak. The publication is an outcome of the 2023 international conference involving 11 universities across ASEAN. It marks the first of four planned volumes under the regional academic partnership.
In his remarks, Prof. Anter Venus stated that Indonesia is facing challenges reminiscent of the 1970s, particularly rapid population growth ahead of the 2045 demographic bonus. However, the current situation is further complicated by climate change, environmental degradation, and land conversion. “Sustainable agriculture is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity,” he said.
He emphasized that food security is a fundamental pillar of national development. Through this book, UPNVJ, together with the Asia-Europe Institute and researchers from various ASEAN universities, presents a comprehensive study of Indonesia’s agricultural development since the 1970s and underscores the urgency of sustainability and digitalization in strengthening the food system.
The international seminar featured Leonardo Adypurama Alias Teguh Sambodo, Deputy for Food, Natural Resources, and Environment at the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN/Bappenas), as keynote speaker. In his presentation, he noted global projections that food production is expected to increase by 14 percent over the next decade, while greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector are projected to rise by 6 percent by 2034.
Without policy intervention, he warned, the impacts of climate change could result in losses of up to Rp 544 trillion. In addition, the hidden costs of Indonesia’s food system are estimated to range between 28.5 and 45.4 percent of the country’s 2023 gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, he argued, food system transformation should be based on an ecoregional approach integrating land and marine resources, including the optimization of aquatic food sources such as fish, shrimp, and seaweed.
The discussion also featured Prof. Raja Rasiah, Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Institute, and Dr. Fadhil Hasan, senior economist at INDEF and lecturer at UPNVJ. The speakers highlighted the importance of technological innovation, agricultural digitalization, and strengthened farmer governance and institutions as foundations for building an inclusive, equitable, resilient, and sustainable food system.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
