Amidst mounting agricultural challenges, interdisciplinary collaboration, including the field of nematology, is becoming increasingly vital. Continuous scientific exploration of nematodes is poised to offer solutions to various food security dilemmas.
Professor Siwi Indarti, a faculty member at the Department of Plant Pests and Diseases, UGM Faculty of Agriculture, emphasizes the critical role of nematology in advancing agricultural practices.
She highlights the significance of open access to scientific advancements and technological innovations, along with enhanced regional and international research partnerships, in amplifying the positive impact of nematology on agricultural productivity.
“Nematology holds the key to agricultural enhancement. This underscores the importance of delving into the functional dynamics of nematodes within sustainable agricultural ecosystems to fortify food security,” she remarked during her inauguration as a professor in agricultural nematology at the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday (Feb. 29).
Professor Indarti underscores that a robust agricultural ecosystem ensures optimal productivity. Sustainable utilization of natural resources within agricultural ecosystems is pivotal for bolstering food security, particularly in developing nations.
She elaborates that food security encompasses three fundamental dimensions: availability, access, and utilization. Agricultural ecosystems are essential in directly or indirectly bolstering these dimensions by providing ecosystem services that facilitate agricultural production.
However, practices such as land processing, farming techniques, and the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides often undermine agricultural ecosystems, leading to diminished agricultural output.
“The multifaceted contributions of various disciplines, including nematology, are indispensable for fostering a resilient agricultural ecosystem that underpins food security,” she emphasized.
In her presentation titled “The Functional Role of Nematodes in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems to Support Food Security,” Professor Indarti elucidated how nematology, the study of nematodes, has evolved from initially focusing solely on nematode species detrimental to plant production to encompassing a broader spectrum of scientific inquiries.
These inquiries are instrumental in addressing food security challenges, climate change impacts, and biodiversity conservation.
Nematodes, she asserted, represent a crucial component of Earth’s biodiversity, particularly in terrestrial environments. Their activities significantly influence vital processes within agricultural ecosystems, including organic matter decomposition and the carbon cycle.
However, while certain plant-parasitic nematodes threaten plants during specific life cycle stages, many other nematode species play crucial roles in agricultural soil ecosystems.
“Therefore, while nematodes are often associated with detrimental impacts on plants, numerous nematode groups contribute significantly to the overall health and functionality of agricultural soil ecosystems,” she concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Donnie