Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Nezar Patria, and musician Ryan D’Masiv delivered motivational messages to 635 new students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Agriculture UGM), during the campus orientation program PIONIR on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at the Fisheries field and Agriculture UGM Auditorium.
In a video message via Zoom, Deputy Minister Patria stated that artificial intelligence (AI) technology is essential for the agricultural and fisheries sectors to address future food security challenges.
Indonesia’s current Global Food Security Index score remains below the global average, at 60.2.
“This is certainly a shared responsibility, especially for you, the new generation, who will carry this growth forward and drive the development of agriculture in Indonesia,” he said.
Compared to other strategic sectors, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries rank among the lowest in the use of digital intelligence technology.
According to survey data, the sector’s exposure to technologies such as AI or big data is only 1.34%, far lower than sectors like mining and manufacturing.
According to him, the current government considers food security a key priority, with a growing emphasis on transforming the agro-maritime sector.
This requires maximizing the use of available technologies, particularly AI, to improve efficiency and productivity.
“Research shows that AI use can boost production participation and generate an economic value of up to USD 13.4 billion. This is significant, and the sector offers vast opportunities for AI use cases in sustainable agriculture and fisheries. These AI applications can be developed along the value chain, from capital and production to distribution,” he explained.
Nevertheless, Deputy Minister Patria acknowledged that AI adoption in the agro-maritime sector still faces challenges, particularly in infrastructure, public–private collaboration, and the limited pool of digital talent in this field.
“This is why it is vital not only to study agriculture but also to broaden our knowledge and strengthen our capacity to adopt AI technology to optimize the agricultural and fisheries sectors,” he said.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister Patria congratulated the new Agriculture UGM students for choosing a field crucial to Indonesia’s future.
“As President Prabowo Subianto has said, there are two highly important matters, food and energy. You are on the right track to study and engage with matters related to food, agriculture, and fisheries,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, as an inspirational speaker, Ryan D’Masiv shared the meaningful journey of his band’s founding with the new students to help them navigate their university years.
Referring to his song ‘Jangan Menyerah’ (Never Give Up), he encouraged the students not to give up easily.
The song, he said, symbolizes resilience and perseverance in facing life’s challenges.
“Never give up on achieving your dreams. Be grateful for what you have, embrace the process, and keep your spirit alive,” he advised.
Although Ryan once dreamed of studying at UGM, he ultimately pursued music with strong discipline.
He recalled that building D’Masiv was not easy, requiring perseverance in joining various competitions, eventually leading them to win a national band competition against 3,000 competitors and sign with a major label.
Ryan expressed gratitude that D’Masiv has endured for 23 years.
While not without challenges, the band maintains its stamina by repeating long-standing positive habits, spending time together, sharing meals, discussing ideas, and nurturing dreams.
“You should be grateful for the opportunity to study at university. Believe that you can succeed. The key is to love what you do, think positively, and practice manifesting, speak good things, because what you say is a prayer. Hopefully, some of you will one day discover new plant varieties,” he added.
Dean of Agriculture UGM, Dr. Jaka Widada, welcomed Ryan’s presence, noting that his message underscored the importance of perseverance and gratitude in life, especially for those privileged to pursue higher education.
He emphasized that Ryan’s journey and spirit can inspire students to remain resilient, honest, and responsible.
“Perseverance and gratitude are the foundations for building the future. We hope our Amarta Muda students will take this story as inspiration to keep creating and learning wholeheartedly, including in advancing Indonesia’s agriculture and fisheries sectors,” said Dean Widada.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna