Faculty of Animal Science hosted the 6th International Seminar of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (ISAINI 2021) on 7-8 July 2021. The major theme for the current seminar centered on tropical livestock production and animal welfare to achieve sustainable development goals. As for the topics, participants were free to choose among the following: feed and climate change, animal nutrition and green environment, animal waste and environmental issues, animal nutrition and feed engineering, biotechnology in animal nutrition, functional feed and animal health, animal welfare and health, breeding and livestock production, poultry production and nutrition, animal physiology and behavior, animal products and technology, and extension of agriculture.
Several distinguished experts from Indonesia and abroad were present as keynote speakers, namely Professor Ismunandar from the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia, Professor Ali Agus from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Marlina and Ferdy from PT Gerbang Cahaya Utama, Professor Yutaka Uyeno from Shinshu University (Japan), Karen Harper from the University of Queensland (Australia), and Chung Ki Yong from the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries (Korea).
Chairman of the Committee Bambang Suwignyo said 70 papers from eight countries passed the screening round of ISAINI 2021, with the accepted ones published later on Clarivate’s Web of Science (WoS). Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science, who was also among the keynote speakers, Professor Ali Agus said over the past ten years, the seminar had helped improve livestock production in Indonesia through the introduction of new knowledge and technology. According to him, there have to be serious measures to address climate change and population issues to ensure sustainable food in the future. As an agricultural country, Indonesia has the potential to lead food production through livestock products.
“Hopefully, through this seminar, the latest technology, livestock welfare, and a healthy environment will emerge to improve the livestock system. Participants can enrich their knowledge and gain new perspectives on current research. Continued cooperation is also expected for the advancement of animal husbandry,” said Ali on Thursday (7/7).
Professor Ismunandar added that agriculture and food were among the national research priorities. According to him, universities play an important role through the human resources they produce, which happens to be the main driver within the process. Thus, universities must remain enthusiastic in researching to keep moving forward amid the occurring problems, such as the chronic low budget issue. The source of the research budget in Indonesia comes from the government, while in other Asian countries, the private sector contributes greater than the government.
“This is what is expected to happen in Indonesia. As our technology is still developing, it has quite become a hurdle along the way,” said Ismunandar.
Author: Agung Nugroho