EduAsiaNews, Purwokerto – Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Indonesia’s food security and food sovereignty through the development of human capital, agricultural technological innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
The commitment was conveyed by Unsoed Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Akhmad Sodiq, M.Sc.Agr., IPU., ASEAN Eng., who served as a keynote speaker at the 69th National Leadership Education and Development Program (P4N LXIX) National Seminar organized by the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas RI) in 2026. The seminar carried the theme, “Building National Food Sovereignty through Governance, Agricultural Technological Innovation, and Human Capital in Response to Global Geopolitical Dynamics,” and was held on Thursday (2 July 2026).
In his presentation, Prof. Akhmad Sodiq emphasized that Indonesia’s food-related challenges are no longer limited to increasing agricultural production. Instead, they have evolved into strategic issues shaped by global geopolitical shifts, climate change, supply chain disruptions, and the need to transform the agricultural system into one that is more modern, sustainable, and competitive. He stressed that strengthening the national food sector requires a comprehensive approach through improved governance, accelerated technological innovation, and the enhancement of agricultural human resources.
According to Prof. Akhmad Sodiq, higher education institutions occupy a strategic position as centers of knowledge creation, innovation, and the development of highly qualified human resources capable of addressing national development challenges.
“Higher education institutions no longer serve solely as centers for education and research. They must also act as catalysts for change by delivering practical solutions to national challenges, including the realization of food security and food sovereignty,” he said.
As a university with recognized strengths in agriculture, animal science, food studies, and rural development, Unsoed continues to implement programs focused on enhancing human capital in the agricultural sector.
These efforts include strengthening competency-based education, improving research quality, advancing agricultural technology innovation, mentoring young farmers, and reinforcing the institutional capacity of the agricultural sector. Through these initiatives, Unsoed aims to cultivate a new generation of millennial farmers and agritech entrepreneurs who are adaptable to technological advancements and capable of improving the productivity and competitiveness of Indonesia’s agricultural sector.
In addition to human capital development, Unsoed continues to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem to ensure that scientific discoveries generate tangible benefits for society. The university’s innovations support the adoption of agricultural mechanization, digital farming systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), biotechnology, and precision agriculture technologies that improve production efficiency while strengthening national food security. Through the downstream commercialization of research outcomes and collaboration with government agencies, industry, and local communities, Unsoed is committed to accelerating technological transformation toward a more modern and sustainable agricultural sector.
On the same occasion, Prof. Akhmad Sodiq underscored that achieving national food security cannot be accomplished by a single institution alone but requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
“Collaboration among the government, higher education institutions, businesses, industries, research institutions, farmers, and the wider community is essential to building a resilient and adaptive food ecosystem capable of responding to global challenges,” he stated.
Chair of the National Food Security Seminar Committee, Dr. Nur Choirul Afif, who is also a lecturer at Unsoed’s Faculty of Economics and Business, noted that the university’s contribution to strengthening Indonesia’s food sovereignty has already produced tangible results.
“Unsoed’s superior rice variety, Inpago Protani, has been cultivated in 15 provinces across Indonesia. This demonstrates Unsoed’s strategic role in advancing Indonesia’s food sovereignty,” he said.
In line with the recommendations of the P4N LXIX Lemhannas RI National Seminar, Unsoed supports the strengthening of three key pillars of national food development: improved food governance, accelerated agricultural technological innovation, and the development of human capital as the primary foundation for achieving Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency. These three pillars are expected to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector while reinforcing national resilience amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics.
Guided by the spirit of #UnsoedBerdampak (Unsoed Creates Impact), the university will continue strengthening its role as a higher education institution that generates innovation, fosters strategic collaboration, and develops outstanding human resources capable of making meaningful contributions to the advancement of Indonesia’s food sector. This commitment forms part of Unsoed’s broader efforts to support the realization of a food-independent, competitive, and sustainable Indonesia on its path toward the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045.
