Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) demonstrates a strong institutional commitment to empowering local farmers and food producers by opening its facilities, laboratories, and expertise to support sustainable agriculture practices. This initiative is formally regulated under Rector’s Circular Letter No. B/28473/UN37/PT.02/2024 concerning the Utilization of Campus Facilities for Local Farmers in Sustainable Farming. The policy allows farmers and agricultural groups around the campus to access UNNES resources—such as land plots, laboratories, research technologies, and superior plant stocks—in collaboration with researchers and students to improve agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and food security.
The circular provides clear mechanisms for community access, including submitting written requests to the Rector detailing activities, locations, and schedules, and ensuring cleanliness, order, and minimal disruption to academic operations. The program is coordinated through the Subdirectorate of Conservation, ensuring that each partnership aligns with UNNES’s conservation values and contributes to both education and community welfare. According to Prof. Heri Yanto, M.B.A., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Planning, General Affairs, Human Resources, and Finance, “This policy integrates science with local practices and reflects UNNES’s dedication to creating a sustainable and inclusive agricultural ecosystem that benefits both academia and society.”
To further support food resilience and sustainable learning, UNNES has developed ECOFARM, established in 2023 as a living laboratory for sustainable agriculture. ECOFARM produces organic vegetables while serving as an educational and research platform for students, farmers, and local residents. The facility is open and free to visit, except for participants purchasing seeds or produce. It functions as a hub for hands-on training in organic farming techniques, urban agriculture, composting, and food safety, providing a model of circular agriculture that benefits the surrounding community and supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Beyond policy and infrastructure, UNNES extends its agricultural innovation through community service programs that emphasize practical learning and local empowerment. In Tambakrejo Village, for example, UNNES academics and students collaborated with the Tambakrejo Farmers Group (KT Tambakrejo) to promote organic vegetable cultivation using environmentally friendly methods. The program trained farmers in creating organic fertilizers and pesticides from local materials and applying raised-bed soil improvement techniques—a critical adaptation for dry and limited urban land conditions. The project enhanced participants’ knowledge and skills, improving their capacity to maintain soil health and increase food quality sustainably.
UNNES’s commitment to technological innovation in agriculture is further reflected in the Smart Farming Empowerment Program, led by the Community Service Team from the Directorate of Information Systems and Public Relations (DSIH). This initiative, conducted in Mangunsari Village with the Teger 02 Farmers Group, addressed challenges such as limited manpower and inefficient irrigation across seven hectares of farmland. The team, led by Dr. Anan Nugroho, S.T., M.Eng., IPM, alongside lecturers and students, introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor land and automate irrigation systems. Smart sensors and robotic devices were developed to help farmers track soil moisture, optimize water usage, and manage equipment remotely.
The program received positive feedback from the farmers, who found the tools effective for improving crop yields and reducing workload. UNNES also ensures the continuity of the project through regular mentoring, technical support, and training sessions to help farmers understand and maintain the equipment. The long-term objective is to expand the model to other farming communities in Central Java, promoting precision agriculture as a solution for productivity and sustainability.
Through these coordinated initiatives—policy access, education, smart technology, and farmer collaboration—UNNES creates an integrated ecosystem that connects academic research with real-world agricultural challenges. Local farmers benefit directly from access to cutting-edge facilities, plant stocks, and sustainable technologies, while students gain valuable field experience in implementing eco-friendly and data-driven agricultural practices.
These efforts affirm UNNES’s leadership as Conservation University, committed to aligning higher education with community empowerment, environmental preservation, and innovation in sustainable food production. By merging policy, practice, and technology, UNNES contributes to advancing national food security, climate adaptation, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 15: Life on Land) through inclusive and science-based agricultural transformation.
