[Unpad Media Channel] Four Unpad experts convey their perspectives on food, ecology, health, and information technology in 2024. This perspectives were delivered in Satu Jam Berbincang Ilmu (Sajabi), which was held at Bale Sawala, Unpad Rectorate Building, Jatinangor, Wednesday (20/12/2023)*.
The food and agriculture sector perspective is conveyed by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Tualar Simarnata. On that opportunity, he said the importance of innovation and technology in agriculture in implementing food sovereignty.
As noted by Prof. Tualar, the increase in population leads to an increase in food requirements. However, agricultural land depreciation still exists, and food fulfillment still depends on imports. If this continues, it will be an issue, though Indonesia has abundant resources that have the potential to make Indonesia a food barn.
“With innovations, we implement Indonesia’s dream to be a food barn,” said Prof. Tualar.
According to him, the agriculture sector in Indonesia recently tends to work muscle-based, not brain-based or intelligence-driven, resulting in innovation.
“We should switch from working in muscle-based to brain-based innovation,” he added.
Moreover, the Dean of the Faculty of Agroindustrial Technology, Prof. Chay Asdak, said that the hydrometeorology disaster would still be a challenge in 2024 if climate change remained a global issue and the management of watersheds had not changed significantly. The critical step is how to face it by minimalizing the amount of loss.
“Therefore, in the future, the expectation of synergistic multi-stakeholder collaboration has become necessary,” said Prof. Chay.
Furthermore, remuneration and nature-based solutions will be ecological rescue trends and increase society’s welfare sustainably and cost effectively. The functional approach and protection of essential ecosystems will answer the environmental challenge in the future if accompanied by ecology literacy and efficient public support.
To support pro-environment government policy, Prof. Chay also assessed the importance of academics in presenting their research findings related to the environment.
“As academics, I think we have to present our research findings on every level from center to region. Mainly, the government can base its policies on research findings,” said Prof. Chay.
In the health sector, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Deni Kurniadi Sunjaya, said that the health system was downstream of health issues in Indonesia, where every factor, such as environment and food, also had an influence.
“The health system is only responsible for 30% of the health issues,” said Prof. Deni.
In 2024, several health issues have to be considered. Prof Deni assessed that health system transformation in Indonesia needed to identify the problem well so it would be easy to intervene.
Regarding COVID-19, Prof. Deni reminds us about the importance of awareness, considering the virus is still present, and we need to know how far our vulnerability is. “Awareness of Covid-19 needs to be improved,” mentioned Prof. Deni.
Concerning technology, the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Prof. Yudi Rosandi, said that information technology was inseparable from infrastructure. In 2024, a point to be highlighted is machine learning development and artificial intelligence, IoT and edge computing, data science, cryptography, and cyber security.
Prof. Yudi also said that the development of technology was significantly related to material research. “If the material research stops, the development also stops,” he said.
On that occasion, Prof. Yudi also reminded us that technology existed to give service to humans, not to control. “We have to see that technology does not give difficulties, but we have to make technology to help us,” added Prof Yudi. (art/SA)*
