The UNESCO Regional Network of Natural Products Chemistry for Safety and Well-being in Pan-Asia and the Pacific (URSWAP) conference was held again in Shanghai, China, from Dec. 12 to 14, 2024.
The event, themed on the development and utilization of natural products for human well-being, brought together representatives from countries including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and China.
Professor Catur Sugiyanto, a professor from the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), participated in this international conference.
Speaking to journalists on Friday (Jan. 3), Professor Sugiyanto highlighted that the URSWAP forum serves as a global platform for discussing innovations based on environmentally friendly and sustainable natural resources.
During the seminar session, which was part of the conference activities, he presented a paper titled “Applying Contract Farming to Mangrove Farmers: Supporting Natural Dye Sources from Mangrove.”
In his presentation, he discussed the potential application of contract farming models for mangrove farmers in Kampung Laut, Cilacap Regency, Central Java Province.
“This research supports the Shanghai Institute of Material Medica (SIMM) program by utilizing natural dyes from mangroves as healthier alternatives for humans,” he said.
As a member of the Institute for Natural Dyes Innovation (INDI) UGM, Professor Sugiyanto emphasized that natural dyes are also more environmentally friendly compared to synthetic dyes, supporting sustainable practices in the textile industry.
He further explained that mangrove preservation is crucial as a source of natural dyes and plays an essential role in protecting coastal communities from erosion and rising sea levels due to climate change.
“Mangroves provide habitats for various fish and marine species, contributing to the sustainability of fishery resources. Additionally, mangroves hold significant potential for development as ecotourism destinations, which could increase the income of local communities,” he added.
In the proposed contract farming model, Professor Sugiyanto suggested that mangrove farmers collaborate with the textile industry, such as Gama Indigo under INDI UGM, to produce and market natural dyes extracted from mangrove bark.
Through this approach, the mangrove ecosystem could serve as an economic resource and be preserved for future generations.
According to him, the model includes technical support, market access, and community-based management to ensure quality and adherence to environmental standards.
He also noted that implementing contract farming could provide stable economic incentives for mangrove farmers while ensuring the sustainability of mangrove ecosystems.
“This program directly supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals. With the collaborative support of SIMM, UNESCO, ANSO, and URSWAP, the various approaches proposed are expected to inspire cross-sector cooperation in promoting human well-being and global environmental sustainability,” he concluded.
Report by: FEB UGM/Shofi Hawa Anjani & Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Author: Agung Nugroho