Mataram, University of Mataram – The Postgraduate Program of the University of Mataram (Unram) held a National Seminar themed “Development of Eco-Friendly Technologies for Food and Energy Security” on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Prime Park Hotel, Mataram. The event served as a strategic forum for discussing global challenges in the food and energy sectors, while also encouraging cross-sector collaboration in the development of sustainable technologies.

The seminar was attended by the Rector of Unram, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D.; Head of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Food Security Agency, Dr. H. Aidy Furqan, M.Pd.; and Director of Unram’s Postgraduate Program, Prof. Dr. Aliefman Hakim, S.Si., M.Sc.

In his report, the Director of Unram’s Postgraduate Program, Prof. Aliefman, stated that the total number of participants and presenters involved in the seminar reached 206 people. “A significant number of the participants came from outside the West Nusa Tenggara Province, including those from IPB University, Hasanuddin University, Andalas University, Jakarta State University, Muslim University of Indonesia, Islamic University of North Sumatra, University of Borneo Tarakan, University of Papua, UIN Alauddin Makassar, and others,” he noted. He also extended a warm welcome to participants from outside the region who came to attend the event in NTB, a province known for its natural richness.

Furthermore, Prof. Aliefman explained that the seminar’s theme is highly relevant to current global challenges such as the climate crisis, energy scarcity, and food insecurity. “The Postgraduate Program at the University of Mataram is committed to being part of the solution through interdisciplinary research, cross-sector collaboration, and the application of technologies that are not only efficient but also environmentally friendly,” he added.

The seminar is also expected to generate strategic ideas and open up collaboration opportunities, including the potential signing of Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) for Unram’s eight postgraduate study programs or other forms of inter-institutional cooperation.

In addition, the Rector of Unram, Prof. Bambang, expressed his appreciation for the successful organization of the seminar. He emphasized that eco-friendly technologies should not remain merely as concepts or topics of discussion, but must be implemented on a practical scale for the benefit of society. The Rector cited examples of how other countries have optimized their natural resources, such as geothermal energy, micro-hydro power, and wind turbines.

“I personally witnessed how a small town abroad was able to harness geothermal energy from hot springs to power a centralized heating system for the entire city even using it to generate electricity. With all the natural potential we have here in NTB, why haven’t we taken similar steps?” he remarked.

He also emphasized the need for local research and innovation in small-scale energy technologies such as solar panels and mini wind turbines that can be utilized by rural communities. “Let’s start small household-scale solar panels, turbines for shrimp farms, or other innovations coming from campuses and universities. We must become pioneers, not just spectators in this era of change,” he asserted. The Rector encouraged stronger collaboration between universities, the government, and the community to build a more sustainable future.

In line with this, the Head of the NTB Provincial Food Security Agency, Dr. Aidy Furqan, stated that food security is not only about availability, but also involves proper distribution management, responsible consumption, and food waste handling. He expressed appreciation for the involvement of higher education institutions like Unram in research and the development of solutions to reduce food loss and improve production efficiency.

“We are opening wide opportunities for collaboration, including the use of government-owned land for research and development,” he stated. He also emphasized that extreme poverty and food insecurity remain major challenges in NTB, which must be addressed through sustainable cross-sector integration.

Four keynote speakers were featured during the seminar. Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Andi Muhammad Syakir, M.S., Senior Expert to the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, delivered a presentation titled “Food Sovereignty Policies for National Dignity.” Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Cuk Sapriyadi Ali Nandar, S.T., M.Eng., Head of the Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization at BRIN, presented on “Energy Sovereignty Policies for National Dignity.”

Next, Niken Arumdati, S.T., M.Sc., Secretary of the NTB Provincial Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, presented on “Eco-Friendly Technologies for Energy Security in NTB.” Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Sitti Hilyana, M.Si., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Unram, delivered a presentation on the Potential of Marine Biomaterials for Food. The seminar’s presentation session was moderated by Prof. Ir. Muhammad Sarjan, M.Agr.CP., Ph.D.

Following the main session, the event continued with parallel class presentations, where participants showcased various innovative research projects. The seminar concluded with the formulation of policy and eco-friendly technology recommendations aimed at supporting food and energy security at both regional and national levels.