Staff Mobility IJRA at Wageningen University & Research Strengthens UGM–WUR Agricultural Research Collaboration

Wageningen, Netherlands — Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, lecturer at the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and researcher at the Smart Agriculture Research Center (SARC), conducted a staff mobility program at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Netherlands, on 1–12 September 2026. This activity is part of the International Joint Research Academy (IJRA), which aims to strengthen UGM's international research networks and collaborations.

The main agenda of the visit included exploring cooperation between UGM and WUR, discussing collaborative research, planning joint publications, and developing joint research proposals. During these activities, Dr. Andri held discussions with several research partners at WUR: Dr. Joseph Peller in the field of spectral imaging for plant phenotyping, Prof. Dr. Gerrit Polder in the field of spectral imaging technology, and Assoc. Prof. Gert Kootstra in the field of agricultural robotics.

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Progress discussion of Joint Supervision with Prof. Gerrit Polder and Dr. Joseph Peller

One of the key discussion focuses was the development of research that integrates robotics technology and plant phenotyping for tropical agriculture. This approach is expected to support more objective, rapid, and accurate observation of plant characteristics, while also creating opportunities for developing smart agricultural technology suited to agricultural conditions in Indonesia.

Dr. Andri also visited the WUR Vision + Robotics Laboratory and discussed with researchers about the technologies and research activities being developed. In particular, discussions with Arjan Vroegop focused on plant phenotyping simulation and its relevance to future collaborative research plans. The laboratory visit provided insights into the use of imaging and robotics systems to support plant phenotype measurement and agricultural automation activities.

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With Assoc. Prof. Gert Kootstra following a discussion on robotics for plant phenotyping

In addition to the staff mobility agenda, Dr. Andri also accompanied the International Joint Supervision activities for Mohammad Athala Fawwaz Dzaky, a student in the Master's Program in Agricultural Engineering at UGM. Through a co-supervision program with Dr. Joseph Peller, Athala had the opportunity to participate in direct supervision and conduct laboratory practicum at the WUR Vision + Robotics Laboratory. This activity strengthened the student's academic experience through direct involvement in an international research environment.

During a meeting with the WUR cooperation department, Dr. Andri presented a proposal for joint research on robotics and plant phenotyping for tropical agriculture. The discussions also focused on identifying funding opportunities and developing strategic steps so that these ideas can be developed into joint research proposals and collaborative scientific publications.

Dr. Andri stated that the opportunity to learn and discuss directly with WUR researchers was an extremely valuable experience. In addition to observing various technological advances in spectral imaging, plant phenotyping, and agricultural robotics, he also gained important learning from the work ethic and culture of learning and collaboration that flourishes within WUR's research environment. The open discussion culture, cross-disciplinary collaborative work, and discipline in conducting research became important impressions during the visit.

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Group photo with WUR project development staff, Dr. Joseph Peller, Priska Prasetya, Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, and Athala Fawwaz

The visit also provided understanding of how research institutions build and manage cooperation with industry partners. The linkage between academic activities, research, technology development, and industry needs demonstrates the importance of building an innovation ecosystem so that research results can provide broader benefits. As one of the world's leading universities in agriculture, WUR is a strategic partner in the development of future agricultural research. This visit is expected to lay the foundation for more concrete cooperation between UGM and WUR, including in research, publications, joint proposal development, and faculty and student capacity building.

This activity reaffirms UGM's commitment to expanding its global network and improving research quality in the field of smart agriculture. The UGM–WUR collaboration is expected to produce innovations relevant to tropical agriculture and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17 on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.