UGM is dedicated to bolstering the future of food security expediting the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs). A tangible manifestation of this commitment is the introduction of the Smart Agri Plant Factory.
The Smart Agri Plant Factory, an innovative endeavor spearheaded by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering within the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, heralds a new era of modern, intelligent, and sustainable agriculture.
This cutting-edge facility is meticulously designed to meet the evolving demands for innovative and adaptable agricultural solutions.
Armed with state-of-the-art soilless technology, including automated nutrient delivery systems, real-time water and air quality monitoring, precision lighting control, hydroponics, and artificial intelligence, the factory enables plant cultivation in a meticulously controlled environment.
“This setup enables agriculture to thrive indoors, shielded from the vagaries of weather and external environmental adversities,” explained Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, the research coordinator at Smart Agriculture Research, during the inauguration of the Smart Agri Plant Factory at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology on Friday (Feb. 23).
The development of this groundbreaking technology, he continued, serves as a pivotal platform for advancing research and development in agricultural technology.
Moreover, it offers a viable alternative to boost crop productivity, ensuring sustainable food security while concurrently curbing pesticide and water usage, thus minimizing the carbon footprint of agricultural practices.
Dr. Nugroho underscored that the research endeavors are centered on optimizing environmental parameters for diverse crop varieties, elucidating growth responses and plant behavior to tailor the Smart Agri Plant Factory to suit the specific requirements of varying ecosystems and geographical conditions.
Employing non-contact and non-destructive plant growth observation technologies, encompassing both 2D and 3D methods, alongside studies on plant movement behavior, enables the assessment of plant conditions during cultivation in a controlled environment.
“Armed with insights into optimal conditions and plant responses, diverse input parameters within agricultural ecosystems can be effectively implemented,” he elaborated.
This pioneering innovation is envisioned as a solution for global challenges like climate change, food security, and the imperative for land use efficiency.
By amalgamating cutting-edge technology with sustainable agriculture principles, the Smart Agri Plant Factory aims to revolutionize the food production paradigm, rendering it more efficient, environmentally conscious, modern, and sustainable.
Professor Lilik Sutiarso, Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, emphasized that the Smart Agri Plant Factory represents not merely an innovation but a paradigm shift in perceiving and managing food production in the foreseeable future.
“By offering intelligent and sustainable solutions, we aspire to make a tangible contribution to addressing the pressing global issue of food security and mitigating climate change,” Professor Sutiarso asserted.
Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Professor Eni Harmayani, expressed her profound appreciation for the inauguration of the Smart Agri Plant Factory, attributing it to the diligence and dedication of a multidisciplinary team comprising students, lecturers, and researchers at Smart Agriculture Research.
This initiative was developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, the Agricultural Energy and Machinery Laboratory (EMP), and the Environmental and Agricultural Building Engineering Laboratory (TLBP) and fortified by the support of an industry partner PT Inamas Technology Synthesis (INASTEK).
“The advent of the Smart Agri Plant Factory is poised to catalyze further research endeavors in mitigating climate change. Moreover, it serves as a blueprint for intelligent and sustainable agro-industrial systems that can incorporate indigenous wisdom,” she elucidated.
UGM Director of Research, Professor Mirwan Ushada, expressed optimism regarding the role of the Smart Agri Plant Factory in advancing future flagship research at UGM. Professor Ushada delineated five translational and transdisciplinary flagship research areas, emphasizing food self-sufficiency, climate change, and environmental adaptation.
“The university is poised to bolster the development of the Smart Agri Plant Factory as a research and demonstration facility,” he affirmed.
Simultaneously, UGM showcased many other avant-garde agricultural innovations during the launch event.
Dr. Radi, head of the Agricultural Energy and Machinery Laboratory, introduced cutting-edge technologies such as specialized agricultural drones for land monitoring and management, mapping drones facilitating topographic analysis and natural resource management, and 6-axis robotic arms offering automation solutions in harvesting.
Furthermore, autonomous tractor technology facilitates highly efficient and accurate land processing, while various innovative prototypes stemming from research collaborations between lecturers and students were also unveiled.
This concerted effort underscores the collaborative endeavors of research teams within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, with a vision to position the department as a nexus of excellence in modern agricultural technology development.
By introducing these technologies, UGM is unwavering in its commitment to spearhead the transformation of agriculture into a more innovative, efficient, and sustainable epoch.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Donnie