On Friday 20 January 2023 at 09.15-10.30 AM the APPERTANI Team led by Prof. Dr. Irsal Las and accompanied by Prof. Dr. Tahlim Sudaryanto, Prof. Dr. Sjamsul Bahri, and Dr. Helena J. Purba was welcomed by the Head of BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko at BRIN head office Jl. MH. Thamrin Jakarta. The purpose of the meeting was to present the results of the research “REORIENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TO CREATE A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEM”. This research is a  collaboration between APPERTANI and Syngenta International for Sustainable Agriculture, whose research team is chaired by Prof. Dr. Tahlim Sudaryanto and consists of Prof. Dr. Achmad Suryana, Dr. Iqbal Rafani, Dr. Wahid, Dr. Helena J Purba, Ir. Rangga Ditya Yofa and Sheila Savitri, SP.

Ketua APPERTANI Prof. Dr. Irsal Las bersama Kepala BRIN Laksana Tri Handoko.

The meeting was started by introducing about APPERTANI by Prof. Irsal, then continued with the presentation of the results of the study by Prof. Tahlīm with the following recommendations: 1) increasing the budget to strengthen the research ecosystem to encourage evidence-based policies; 2) Diversification of funding sources for research programs; 3) Increasing the portion of the budget for high-value commodities and research themes towards a sustainable and climate-resilient food system; 4) Strengthening the system for disseminating research results to farmers, including the mechanism for transferring agricultural technology from BRIN to small-scale farmers; 5) Strengthening the adoption of research results for farmers in achieving food and nutrition security; 6) Development of strategy, coordination and communication of agricultural research implementation within BRIN internally; and 7) Strengthening the coordination of BRIN and Ministries/Institutions, especially with the Ministry of Agriculture to formulate strategies for the implementation and dissemination of agricultural research results.

Furthermore, the discussion and response from the Head of BRIN who was accompanied by Dr. Ir. Boediastoeti Ontowirjo, MBA-Deputy for Research and Innovation Policy, and Dr. Mego Pinandito, M.Eng-Deputy for Development Policy. The Head of BRIN explained that agriculture along with food and energy is an important part for BRIN to handle. The research budget at BRIN was not only obtained from the state budget, but also from other sources such as Endowment Funds such as LPDP, and funds originating from foreign and private partnerships.

Specifically for research funds for agriculture at BRIN which are allocated to the Agricultural and Food Research Organization, AFRO  for the purchase of research materials, it does not include the use of equipment and the use of research facilities in integrated laboratories. Therefore, AFRO is expected to establish cooperation with related institutions such as National Food Agency,  BAPANAS or foreign parties.

Cooperation with the private sector is wide open where private parties can utilize existing facilities at BRIN such as research human resources, equipment and laboratories owned by BRIN. Agricultural research at BRIN is aimed at Corporate Farming, not small-scale farmers and agricultural industry management. Maybe it would be better if there were millennial farmers who through the Corporate Farming concept would manage agricultural land on a large scale so that it would be easier to adopt or apply technology and agricultural machinery.

In order to guarantee the production and availability of agricultural products, especially staple foods, in the short term, empowerment and facilitation of smallholder farmers is still needed to transfer technology and innovation along with accompaniment to ensure the adoption and implementation of technology and innovation are directly related to increasing agricultural production and productivity. Responding to the Head of BRIN, Prof. Irsal had informed him that around 80-90% of the seeds planted by farmers nationally were superior varieties released by the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development.

As a follow-up to this meeting, the Head of BRIN assigned the Deputy for Research and Innovation Policy and the Deputy for Development Policy to review input from APPERTANI. Hopefully this kind of APERTANI meeting can continue periodically.