FST UIN Jakarta Partners with Ministry of Agriculture to Advance Sustainable Farming and Innovation

Jakarta, UIN Online News — The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta is expanding its strategic collaborations by partnering with Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) to strengthen human resources, agricultural research, and technology development.

The initiative was launched during a joint exploratory discussion held at FST UIN Jakarta on Monday (15/09/2025), with the dialogue centered on key areas including education and certification programs, applied research, and the development of modern agricultural models that integrate Islamic values.

Both institutions affirmed their commitment to promoting innovation that prioritizes productivity while upholding sustainability and ethical principles in science. UIN Jakarta representative Prof. Husni Teja Sukmana, as the dean of FST, guarantees the university’s readiness to support the Ministry’s strategic programs across education, research, and community service.

“UIN Jakarta is committed to contributing to national food security policies, including through specialized classes, training programs, and collaborative research. We hope this partnership will deliver tangible benefits both for academia and society at large,” he stated.

Echoing this view, Muhammad Amin, S.PI., M.Si., Head of the Agricultural Education Center, stated that it is necessary to prepare a new generation of young farmers capable of adapting to technological change.

“We can no longer rely on conventional farming practices. The younger generation must be equipped with the latest knowledge, skills, and technology to address the challenges of modern agriculture. Through collaboration with universities like UIN Jakarta, we aim to produce an innovative, competitive, and sustainable agricultural sector,” he explained.

He further noted that UIN Jakarta’s partnership is significant not only academically but also socially and culturally, given the institution’s dual strength in scholarship and its religious-social base.

“Agricultural education here is not merely about knowledge transfer but also about character-building and work ethic aligned with Islamic values,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ujang Maman, Professor of Agricultural Guidance of UIN Jakarta, underlined the strategic role of pesantren (Islamic boarding school) communities in bolstering local food resilience.

“They are uniquely positioned not only as centers of religious learning but also as socio-economic hubs. With proper empowerment, they can serve as models of integrated farming that support both internal needs and contribute to national food resilience,” he remarked.

The collaboration also opens pathways for young entrepreneurs and agricultural startups, enabling students, researchers, and pesantren communities to create practical solutions for challenges in agricultural production, distribution, and marketing. This initiative is expected to generate innovative agribusiness models and foster young generations with sustainable mindsets for farming practices.

(Press Release by the Faculty of Science and Technology)