Universitas Gadjah Mada and PT. East West Seed Indonesia (Ewindo) have agreed to establish Indonesian National Vegetable Genetics Bank. This was signed in an agreement between UGM Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Dr. Paripurna , S.H., M.Hum., L.LM., and Director of PT. East West Seed Indonesia, Glenn Pardede. Both are considered to have the same vision in supporting the sustainability of national vegetable germ plasm through genetical resource management in a sustainable manner.
Glenn Pardede, said the agreement was the starting point of the collaboration for the next five years until the establishment of the Vegetable Genetics Bank,
Glenn hoped the National Vegetable Genetics Bank would be used optimally as through this programme many varieties can be developed that can help farmers across Indonesia.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., witnessing the agreement signing, said agricultural products were very much determined by seeds.
"Hopefully with the seed bank, the plasm in Indonesia will sustain and be developed further for wider interests. Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Biology can work together to be involved in this programme,” he said.
Also witnessing the signing were Ahmad Yuniarto, Commissioner of PT East West Seed Indonesia, and Asep Harpenas, Director of Research & Development of Ewindo, and other directors PT Ewindo, university leadership, Dean and Vice-Dean and other managers of Faculty of Agriculture.