Yogyakarta, February 6, 2026 — Four students from the Agricultural Engineering Study Program, specializing in Biosystems Machinery Engineering (TMB) at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully presented the progress of their research under the Research Internship Program at PT Triputra Agro Persada. This activity is part of the Industrial Research Internship Program, which aims to implement precision agriculture technologies in oil palm plantations.
The progress presentation was conducted online on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM WIB. The presenters were Dafina Arrahma Rafniardy, Anggi Putri Ardiana, Adimas Dwi Prabowo, and Karunia Rajanta Ginting.
The session was attended by supervising lecturers from UGM, including Prof. Bambang Purwantana, Prof. Lilik Sutiarso, Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho (Coordinator of KBK TMB), Dr. Rudiati Evi Masithoh, Dr. Radi, and Ardan Wiratmoko, S.TP., M.Sc. Also present was the field supervisor from PT Triputra Agro Persada, Nanik Ambar Suharyanti, S.P., M.Si.
Research Topics on Precision Agriculture in Oil Palm Plantations
During the research internship program, the students conducted innovative studies addressing key challenges in oil palm plantations, as follows:
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Adimas Dwi Prabowo: Research on the use of multispectral drones for identifying leaf-eating caterpillars in oil palm plantations.
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Karunia Rajanta Ginting: Development of a sensor-based system for detecting rhinoceros beetle larvae (Oryctes rhinoceros) in soil.
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Dafina Arrahma Rafniardy: Research on ripeness quality detection of oil palm fresh fruit bunches using thermal vision systems.
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Anggi Putri Ardiana: Application of thermal vision systems for early detection of Ganoderma disease in oil palm plantations.
Nanik Ambar Suharyanti, S.P., M.Si., representing PT Triputra Agro Persada, expressed her appreciation:
“We would like to thank you for the trust given to PT Triputra Agro Persada in facilitating the research internship program for Agricultural Engineering students specializing in Biosystems Machinery. We hope this activity provides valuable experience and enhances the students’ scientific knowledge.”
Similarly, Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, Coordinator of KBK Biosystems Machinery Engineering, emphasized the importance of this collaboration:
“This is our first opportunity to conduct a Research Internship program at PT TAP. This activity is part of experiential learning through research-based internship schemes (Internship, Internship I, and Internship II). We hope that the research topics developed can be continued into further studies and joint scientific publications,” he stated.
Supporting Innovation, Industry Collaboration, and SDGs
The research internship program not only equips students with practical industrial experience but also contributes to the development of innovative solutions for challenges in the oil palm plantation sector. This initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
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SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Enhancing productivity and sustainability of oil palm agriculture through precision technology and early detection of pests and diseases to reduce yield losses.
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SDG 4 – Quality Education: Providing experiential learning opportunities, strengthening research skills, and fostering academic–industry collaboration to enhance educational quality.
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SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Promoting technological innovation such as drones, sensors, and thermal vision systems in agriculture, while strengthening partnerships between universities and industry.
This presentation marks an important milestone in the collaboration between UGM and PT Triputra Agro Persada, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing Indonesian agriculture through technology-based research and innovation.
