The UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM) has again achieved international recognition. One of its researchers, Dr. Widiastuti Setyaningsih, was selected to participate in the prestigious Young Scientist Program (YSP 2024).
This program, organized by the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB), took place in Macedon Rangers, Melbourne, Australia, from Sept. 20 to 22.
During the event, Dr. Setyaningsih presented her research at the scientific conference Biomolecular Horizons 2024: Discover, Create, Innovate, marking a tangible contribution by FTP UGM to strengthening Indonesia’s position in the global scientific research arena.
YSP 2024 is an international forum that allows young scientists from FAOBMB member countries to interact with global experts and expand their scientific networks.
In the program, Dr. Setyaningsih presented her research on the development and validation of innovative analytical methods for the identification and quantification of bioactive compounds in food products, with a focus on tryptophan compounds from Kappaphycus spp., a type of seaweed extensively cultivated in Indonesia.
Kappaphycus spp. was analyzed by sampling from 36 cultivation sites across eight islands in Indonesian waters. The results revealed significant variation in tryptophan content, depending on environmental conditions and cultivation methods.
The highest tryptophan concentration was found in Sekotong, Lombok samples cultivated using the longline method.
“This discovery provides new insights into seaweed farming practices and highlights the potential of Kappaphycus spp. as a source of bioactive compounds,” explained Dr. Setyaningsih, who also serves as the Secretary of the Master’s Program in Food Science and Technology at FTP UGM.
Dr. Setyaningsih hopes that her research will contribute to Indonesia’s sustainable development of the seaweed industry.
Furthermore, due to its bioactive components, she believes that seaweed could open new opportunities in its application to the health sector, particularly in the production of functional foods and supplements.
“This is certainly in line with the government’s program to accelerate the development of the seaweed industry, given its immense downstream potential,” she remarked.
Dr. Setyaningsih’s participation in this program underscores the role of FTP UGM in supporting globally relevant innovative research and expanding international academic and industrial collaborations.
This event is expected to increase the contribution of Indonesian scientists in advancing biochemical and molecular biology research and open up more opportunities for collaboration between Indonesia and other countries.
“The Young Scientist Program 2024 provided me with a valuable opportunity to broaden my scientific perspective and share research findings in an international forum. I believe this experience will strengthen global collaborations that are essential for the advancement of science,” she concluded.
Reporter: FTP UGM/Luqlun Arghani
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afif