Gunungkidul, August 21, 2026 – Collaboration among universities, development partners, local governments, and communities serves as an important foundation for promoting sustainable agricultural and environmental development. This commitment was further strengthened through the signing of a five-year collaboration agreement between the Yanmar Environmental Sustainability Support Association (YESSA) and the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM) to develop the Sustainable Karst-Based Circular Economy & Agroecological System program in Umbulrejo Village, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Held on Friday, August 21, 2026, the activity marked an important milestone in the continuation of collaboration between YESSA and FTP UGM to develop programs based on sustainable agriculture, circular economy principles, and agroecological approaches in karst areas. The collaboration is also part of an effort to expand the impact of community development programs through science-based approaches tailored to local needs.

Strengthening Trust and Five-Year Commitment

During the event, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Eni Harmayani, M.Sc., stated that the continuation of the collaboration for five years represents more than simply the duration of the partnership. It reflects mutual trust and a shared commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture.

“Five years does not only indicate the length of the collaboration. These five years reflect trust and commitment to developing sustainable agriculture. Through this collaboration, we hope to make the Special Region of Yogyakarta even more special,” said Prof. Eni.

The five-year collaboration continues the relationship established between YESSA and FTP UGM through various community and environmental development activities. Through the new program in Umbulrejo Village, the collaboration will focus on developing approaches that address the characteristics and challenges of karst landscapes.

DTPB FTP UGM Ready to Support the Umbulrejo Village Program

Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, FTP UGM, Dr. Arifin Dwi Saputro, S.T.P., M.Sc., expressed his appreciation for the trust placed by YESSA in DTPB FTP UGM to implement the community development program in Umbulrejo Village.

“Thank you for the opportunity and trust given by YESSA to DTPB FTP UGM to implement the community development program in Umbulrejo Village,” said Dr. Arifin.

The involvement of DTPB FTP UGM in the program is expected to connect academic and research capacities with the real needs of the community. This approach is important for developing programs that are not only oriented toward addressing short-term challenges but also toward strengthening community capacity and ensuring long-term program sustainability.

YESSA Appreciates the DTPB FTP UGM Team’s Performance

YESSA representative Naoshi Kondo expressed his appreciation for the collaboration established between YESSA and DTPB FTP UGM, including various achievements generated through the program in Sambak Village.

According to him, the involvement of senior and young lecturers within the same team is one of the important strengths in implementing the YESSA program. Senior lecturers contribute experience and expertise in shaping the direction of the program, while younger lecturers bring energy, creativity, and new approaches to field implementation.

“The synergy between senior and young lecturers is very important. We have seen how the experience of senior lecturers can be combined with the enthusiasm and ideas of younger lecturers, allowing the program to be managed effectively and generate tangible impacts,” he added.

Naoshi Kondo also viewed this team strength as an important asset for continuing the long-term collaboration between YESSA and DTPB FTP UGM. The experience gained through the program in Sambak Village is expected to serve as a foundation for developing the new program in Umbulrejo Village.

“We greatly appreciate the strong collaboration of the DTPB FTP UGM team, which has produced good collaboration and results in Sambak Village. With the continuation of this program, we at YESSA hope that the team will continue to achieve good results,” said Naoshi Kondo.

Meanwhile, Kamikubo Keita, Executive Secretary of YESSA, emphasized that the trust established between YESSA and DTPB FTP UGM serves as one of the foundations for developing the five-year collaboration program.

The long-term collaboration is expected to provide broader opportunities for both parties to develop sustainable programs and generate greater impacts for the community.

Umbulrejo Village Hopes the Collaboration Can Address Community Challenges

From the village government’s perspective, Wakimin and the Umbulrejo Village Government welcomed the collaboration to be implemented with YESSA and FTP UGM.

“We hope that this community development program can serve as a bridge to help address the challenges faced by Umbulrejo Village,” said Wakimin.

The program is expected to provide a collaborative platform for the village government, community, university, and development partners to identify various challenges and develop solutions suited to the characteristics of Umbulrejo Village as a karst area.

Regional Government Support for Program Sustainability

Support for the collaboration was also expressed by KPH H. Yudanegara, Ph.D., representing the Yogyakarta Special Region Office of Community, Village, Population Administration and Civil Registration Empowerment.

“We provide our full support for this collaboration, and we hope that the data obtained from Umbulrejo Village can eventually be applied in other villages,” said KPH H. Yudanegara.

The statement highlights the importance of developing a community development model that not only benefits one village but also has the potential to be adapted and replicated in other areas with similar characteristics.

Support was also expressed by the Yogyakarta Special Region Office of Agriculture and Food Security, which stated its readiness to support programs proposed by the community development team for Umbulrejo Village.

Towards a Five-Year Program Based on Circular Economy and Agroecology

The collaboration between YESSA and FTP UGM in Umbulrejo Village carries the theme “Sustainable Karst-Based Circular Economy & Agroecological System: Umbulrejo Village, Gunung Kidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.”

The theme serves as the foundation for developing a program that integrates circular economy principles and agroecology with the environmental characteristics of karst areas. This approach is expected to encourage more efficient utilization of local resources while strengthening community resilience in addressing various environmental and agricultural challenges.

With the support of YESSA, FTP UGM, the Umbulrejo Village Government, and regional government institutions, the five-year program is expected to produce various innovations and community empowerment models that are research-based, responsive to local needs, and potentially replicable.

The strengthened collaboration also reaffirms DTPB FTP UGM’s commitment to contributing to sustainable agricultural development through cross-sectoral collaboration. Through a long-term relationship built on trust, the program in Umbulrejo Village is expected to generate tangible impacts for the community while contributing to the development of a sustainable agriculture model in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.