[Unpad Media Channel] Universitas Padjadjaran has held its first harvest of a new, uniquely bred sweet potato variety developed by its researchers. The event is attended by the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Rector of Unpad at the Ciparanje Experimental Field, Unpad Jatinangor Campus, on Saturday, July 5th, 2025.
This harvest also marks a significant milestone in Unpad’s strategic collaboration with Bappenas, which includes the proposal to establish an International Sweet Potato Center aimed at strengthening food security and advancing global sweet potato research. The initiative will be led by PRAISE (Padjadjaran Center for Sweet Potato Research and Innovation Excellence).
“I previously proposed to the Rector that Unpad should establish an International or National Sweet Potato Center. Our vision is for this center to have global standing while remaining based in Indonesia, at Unpad, as a reference hub for the world,” said the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy.
The Secretary of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Principal Secretary of Bappenas, Teni Widuriyanti, S.E., M.A., emphasized that the Sweet Potato Center will not only showcase local varietal innovations but also facilitate international cooperation with countries where sweet potatoes are staple foods.
“This initiative is a real contribution to food security and an example of innovation that could lead to downstream development. We must support, collaborate on, and sustain this initiative to ensure it becomes a tangible outcome,” stated Teni, who is also an alumna of Unpad.
This initiative aligns with Unpad’s vision as an institution of higher education that creates real impact for society. The Rector of Unpad, Prof. Arief S. Kartasasmita, noted that the event marks a promising start in enhancing Unpad’s contributions to national development efforts, particularly in strengthening food security and boosting the future of agriculture in Indonesia.
“We hope Unpad will continue to actively contribute both in producing outstanding educators and in delivering innovative research relevant to agricultural advancement. We sincerely thank the Ministry of National Development Planning for its support, and we hope this support continues as Unpad scales its impact,” said the Rector.
Sweet Potato Breeding Program
Led by Prof. Agung Karuniawan as the Head of PRAISE, along with Dr. Debby Ustari, S.P., M.P., Arif Affan Wicaksono, S.P., M.Agr., and Unpad graduate students Fadila Ridara, S.P., M.Agr., and Saepul Zamil, the research team has developed new sweet potato varieties based on flesh color which are yellow, orange, white, and purple. Their breeding efforts focus not only on visual diversity but also on enhancing yield, disease resistance, sweetness, shelf life, and climate adaptability.
“We’ve also tailored the development of these varieties to farmers’ needs, such as compact root shapes and reduced vine length, which make cultivation easier and more efficient. The breeding process includes selection, hybridization, and mutation techniques to achieve the desired plant characteristics,” explained Prof. Agung.
Prof. Agung has been consistently researching sweet potatoes since 2007. Although often regarded as a simple crop, sweet potatoes hold vast untapped potential. His ongoing research has not only produced superior varieties but has also made significant academic contributions, having supervised the graduation of at least 20 doctoral students.
According to Prof. Agung, much of the potential for sweet potato development lies in the communities surrounding Unpad’s Jatinangor Campus, particularly in villages across Sumedang Regency. Field observations indicate that local farmers have diverse needs, which form a strong basis for designing sweet potato varieties that are adaptive, easy to cultivate, and economically viable.
“As a member of the Expert Council of the Indonesian Sweet Potato Association, I work closely with farmers. While we researchers bring expertise in genetics, post-harvest technology, innovation, and agricultural management, the farmers bring real-world field experience. Agricultural innovation is truly born from this complementary relationship between science and practice,” said Prof. Agung.
Also present at the event are Deputy Head of Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi, the Chair of the Jakarta Intercultural School Foundation Phil Rickard, the former Unpad Rector for the 2019–2024 period, Prof. Rina Indiastuti who played a key role in initiating sweet potato development efforts, and several Unpad leaders including Vice Rector for Planning, Digital Transformation, Finance, and Business Management Prof. Maman Setiawan, the Vice Rector for Research, Collaboration, and Marketing Prof. Rizky Abdulah, and Vice Rector for Resources and Management Prof. R. Widya Setiabudi Sumadinata. Also in attendance are university directors, heads of offices, deans, and vice deans from across the Unpad academic community.
With this inaugural harvest, Unpad reaffirms its commitment to research based on local potential that generates broad societal impact. Going forward, the development of superior sweet potato varieties and the planned establishment of the Sweet Potato Center at Unpad are expected not only to strengthen national food security, but also to position Indonesia as a global hub of innovation and reference for sweet potato research.
