UNAMIN Visits Smart Agriculture Research Center UGM, Studies Integrated Laboratory Management and Smart Agriculture Research

Yogyakarta, September 17, 2026. Laboratory management and strengthening of the research ecosystem were the focus of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong's (UNAMIN) visit to the Smart Agriculture Research Center, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) UGM, Thursday (17/9/2026). This visit was part of a collaborative activity between UGM's Faculty of Forestry and UNAMIN, and served as an opportunity to exchange knowledge regarding facility management and research development in higher education institutions.

The UNAMIN delegation consisted of Vice Rector IV for Planning, Cooperation, Resources and Business Units, Ir. Irman Amri, ST., MT., IPM., and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Ir. Hendrik Pristianto, S.T., M.T., IPM. The activity was also attended by Dean of UGM's Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Dwiko Budi Permadi, and Dr. Ratih Madya Septiana. From the Smart Agriculture Research Center, the visit was received by Research Coordinator, Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, and his team.

In opening remarks, Dwiko conveyed that UNAMIN had obtained funding grants for an integrated laboratory. In relation to this, the visit was utilized to study laboratory management, research, and supporting facilities within UGM, at the university, faculty, and departmental levels.

The discussion also covered research institutions at UGM. Dwiko introduced the existence of research centers at the university level, research centers within faculty environments, and research groups. This discussion provided an overview of various forms of research organizations that could be considered in the development of UNAMIN's integrated laboratory.

On the same occasion, Andri introduced the Smart Agriculture Research Center under the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems at FTP UGM. He explained the support from UGM AI and NVIDIA for research being developed as one of the flagship research initiatives. A number of research areas were introduced to the delegation, including open field agriculture, indoor farming, and irrigation modernization.

Beyond discussions, the delegation toured research facilities, including the design laboratory, agricultural mechanization, testing facilities for agricultural equipment and machinery, and the Smart Agri Plant Factory. This tour provided UNAMIN delegates an opportunity to directly observe facilities supporting research and agricultural technology development activities at FTP UGM.

The visit to the Smart Agri Plant Factory coincided with the harvest season. Through this tour, the delegation was able to observe indoor cultivation activities as part of the smart agriculture research being developed by the Smart Agriculture Research Center team.

In follow-up discussions, Irman expressed hope that communication could continue, including should UGM's team have activities scheduled in Manokwari or Oransbari. Such opportunities were hoped to be utilized to obtain feedback regarding the development of testing laboratory facilities in Sorong.

This visit served as a forum for exchanging experience in laboratory management and research development between higher education institutions. Through continuous communication, collaboration between UGM and UNAMIN is expected to support the strengthening of research facilities and higher education institution capacity in addressing regional development needs.