Gunungkidul, July 18–20, 2025 — The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), played an active role in the 2025 Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival, held at the Agricultural Technology Park (TTP) Embung Nglanggeran. Carrying the theme “Local Chocolate with Global Competitiveness,” the festival served as a strategic platform for collaboration between academia, industry players, MSMEs, and local communities in advancing the cocoa and chocolate sector.
Representing DTPB FTP UGM, Dr. Arifin Dwi Saputro, S.T.P., M.Sc., was invited as a speaker in the talk show on Cocoa Agribusiness Development. In his presentation, Dr. Arifin emphasized the importance of academic research in strengthening postharvest handling, applying appropriate technology, and implementing production processes that meet international standards. He also highlighted several collaborative initiatives between DTPB FTP UGM and local MSMEs in the cocoa sector, focusing on capacity building, technical skill development, and product innovation to ensure Indonesian chocolate meets international standards and gains wider global recognition.
The participation of DTPB FTP UGM in this festival underlines its role not only as a center of education and research, but also as a driving force for community empowerment and the advancement of agriculture-based industries. Through applied research, technical assistance, and technology innovation, the department contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of local chocolate to enter global markets.
Furthermore, this initiative aligns with the commitment to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): by improving the welfare of cocoa farmers and MSMEs.
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SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): through research-based innovation and technology application in cocoa processing.
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SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): by strengthening collaboration between academia, government, industry, and communities.
The involvement of DTPB FTP UGM in the 2025 Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival demonstrates a long-term commitment to building a sustainable cocoa ecosystem, ensuring that local chocolate is globally competitive, while reinforcing the role of academia in driving sustainable development.
