Dr. Sang Kompiang Wirawan, a Chemical Engineering lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), was inaugurated as a professor of bioresource processing on Tuesday, Jul. 9, 2024.
During the inauguration ceremony, Professor Wirawan delivered a speech titled “Development of Technology for Processing Biological Natural Resources Based on Bioresource Product Engineering and Teaching Industry.”
In his speech, Professor Wirawan stated that Indonesia consistently ranks among the top 10 producers of biological natural resources.
He mentioned several commodities produced, including grains, tea, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, pepper, rubber, plywood, fish, and spices. The spices are then processed into essential oils.
“Unfortunately, Indonesia can only produce 12 out of 200 essential oils traded worldwide,” he said at the UGM Senate Hall.
Indonesia can also develop medicinal plants like ginger, galangal, turmeric, and kencur. However, the most significant consumption of these plants is still on a small industrial scale.
The abundant natural wealth in Indonesia should be utilized for the prosperity of the people.
By developing product engineering as the basis for future chemical engineering education, capable human resources will be available to process this natural wealth.
“These natural resources must be managed in such a way that their sustainability and natural balance are always maintained and not disturbed,” explained Professor Wirawan.
He added that biological natural resources, predominantly plants, essential oils, and superior medicinal plants, should be declared as a form of Indonesia’s comparative advantage.
“Besides being an advantage, this is also a challenge for Indonesia in managing its natural resources,” he said.
In addition, other leading export commodities from Indonesia, such as palm oil and cocoa, need more attention to provide jobs, state revenue, and sustainable income for farmers.
According to Professor Wirawan, enhancing bioresource product engineering techniques is equally important. These techniques should maximize the utilization of available biological raw materials to increase their value.
“The development of science and technology for processing biological natural resources requires serious research in line with the application of the bioresource product engineering concept,” he explained.
On this occasion, Professor Wirawan also mentioned the Teaching Industry activities conducted by UGM to implement the university’s tri-dharma in managing biological products. One such effort is the UGM Cocoa Teaching and Learning Industry.
Hopefully, this program will revive the cocoa industry and expand the downstream food and beverage industry based on chocolate. This would have a positive impact by adding value to cocoa within the country, absorbing labor, and creating a multiplier effect on supporting industries such as packaging, transportation, banking, and other sectors.
At the end of his speech, he invited everyone to contribute solutions for utilizing quality natural resources and implementing the abundant potential of biological, natural, and human resources for the maximum benefit of Indonesia.
“Indonesia must excel and lead in the development of natural resource processing technology based on bioresource product engineering to drive economic growth towards the welfare of the people,” he hoped.
In his welcoming speech, the Secretary of the Council of Professors (DGB), Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo, mentioned that Professor Wirawan is one of the 460 active professors at Universitas Gadjah Mada and is one of the 76 active professors out of 102 at FT UGM.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto
Post-editor: Lintang