[Unpad Media Channel] The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Prof. Dr. Ir. Rachmat Pambudy, M.S., emphasized that sweet potato cultivation not only strengthens national food security but also contributes to global food security.
He delivered this statement as the keynote speaker at the Academic Seminar on “The Strategic Role of Sweet Potatoes in National Food Security”, held at Bale Sawala, Unpad Rectorate Building, Jatinangor, on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025.
On the same day, Prof. Rachmat also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Padjadjaran Center for Sweet Potato Research and Innovation Excellence (PRAISE) at Unpad’s Jatinangor Campus.
“I hope today marks a small step toward building a great civilization, developing food through sweet potatoes. The best contribution of a university is through research. I am very proud that Unpad is part of global food security. Hopefully, PRAISE will soon evolve into an International Sweet Potato Center, serving as Unpad’s contribution to global welfare and civilization,” stated Prof. Rachmat.
He further explained that hunger in several regions of Indonesia must be addressed urgently. This responsibility, he noted, lies not only with the government but also with universities and society at large. By advancing sweet potato cultivation enriched through research, Indonesia can find sustainable solutions to hunger.
Moreover, the Rector of Unpad, Prof. Arief S. Kartasasmita, emphasized that the academic seminar was more than just a scholarly meeting, it also provided a platform for international collaboration, the birth of scientific innovation, and the realization of a shared vision to strengthen global food security.
He added that sweet potatoes are a key commodity that can support food resilience through synergy between academia, policymakers, and national as well as international partners.
“We hope Unpad can play a part in solving food-related challenges at both national and international levels. This event should serve as a starting point for stronger collaborations, where science, policy, and partnerships work hand in hand to ensure sweet potatoes continue to play a role in overcoming hunger, malnutrition, climate change, and other issues tied to the SDGs,” he said.
Through this seminar, participants expressed hope that breakthroughs in sweet potato development as a strategic food source would continue to emerge. With ongoing research, policy support, and partnerships, sweet potatoes are expected to contribute significantly to both national and global food security. (Reporter: Jericho Masyiakh Metiary)*
