January 15, 2025. The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, FTP UGM, through the Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) Yogyakarta, successfully received the prestigious RCE Awards 2024 in the Acknowledged Flagship Project category. This award was achieved through the proposal of Dr. Prieskarinda Lestari, S.T., IPM and the YESSA Community Service Team with their ongoing project titled “Integrating Digital Technological Innovations and Local Excellence: Enhancing Smart Field Learning Centre to Drive Pro-Climate Agricultural-Educational (Agro-Edu) Tourism.”
The Acknowledged Flagship Project award was granted for the alignment and achievements of the implementation, which are in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
This ongoing project aims to create a sustainable circular green economy by integrating digital technological innovations and local excellence in Sambak Village, Magelang, Central Java through a zero-waste-based agrotourism model. This project envisions the realization of a Smart Field Learning Centre as a field education hub focusing on climate action and eco-tourism through community participation, interdisciplinary learning, and problem-based challenges.
It also aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, such as coffee and fruit agroforestry, while enhancing environmental sustainability and the circular economy through technologies like biodigesters, real-time air emission monitoring systems, steam boilers, and dome dryers in Sambak Village. These efforts also support the national recognition of Sambak Village as a Pro-Climate Village and an Energy-Independent Village.
This successful research and community service initiative was made possible with the positive support of the Yanmar Environmental Sustainability Support Association (YESSA) – Japan, the Sambak Village Government, the Magelang Regency Government, the Central Java Provincial Government, and other stakeholders.
The RCE Award was presented by Jonghwi Park, Head of the Innovation and Education Programme at the United Nations University – Institute for Advanced Study of Sustainability, Japan, on December 1, 2024.
This award is a form of international appreciation and recognition for organizations that have contributed to the implementation and promotion of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and transformative efforts to support the achievement of the SDGs for local to global communities, especially for projects initiated and led by youth leaders.
At the RCE Awards 2024, RCE Yogyakarta, based at Universitas Gadjah Mada, received a total of three awards:
- Outstanding Flagship Project: Youth-Led Category
- Honorable Mention Project
- Acknowledged Flagship Project
These achievements highlight the important role of RCE Yogyakarta and its strategic partners in addressing sustainability challenges on both local and global scales.
Contributor: Prieskarinda Lestari.
