A total of 15 graduate students from the Master of Economic Education Program at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) carried out an educational visit to UNNES Ecofarm, located behind the Faculty of Sports Science building, on Friday (June 13). The activity lasted approximately three hours and was accompanied by three supervising lecturers: Prof. Dr. Amin Pujiati, S.E., M.Si., Dr. Dyah Maya Nihayah, S.E., M.Sc., and Dr. Inaya Sari Melati, S.Pd., M.Pd.
The visit began with an opening remark delivered by the Head of the UNNES Subdirectorate of Conservation, Prof. Dr. Nana Kariada Tri Martuti, M.Si. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of youth involvement in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).
Following the opening, the students participated in an introductory session on the maggot ecosystem, covering its life cycle, cultivation techniques, types of feed, and its role in organic waste management. In her presentation, Dr. Inaya highlighted that maggots serve not only as an ecological solution for waste processing but also offer significant economic potential for communities.
“This is a tangible example of the circular economy turning waste into value,” said Dr. Inaya.
After the maggot cultivation session, the students visited the organic mini farm and hydroponic garden, both sustainably managed by UNNES Ecofarm. They observed eco-friendly agricultural practices and took part in harvesting vegetables such as pakcoy and mustard greens. The harvested produce was made available for purchase at affordable prices as part of efforts to introduce local farming concepts to the surrounding community.
During the reflection session, Prof. Amin Pujiati explained that the cradle to cradle principle applied at the Ecofarm represents a real world implementation of sustainability concepts in education.
“Nothing in nature goes to waste. Everything returns to the cycle of life. This is what we hope students will understand as future educators and agents of change,” she conveyed.
She also reaffirmed that this activity aligns with UNNES’s vision as a conservation university actively supporting the achievement of SDGs through education, research, and community-based actions.
The visit served as an inspiration that the transition toward a sustainable lifestyle can begin with small, meaningful steps. Caring for the Earth is a shared responsibility across generations. As echoed in the event’s message: “The Earth does not need us, but we cannot live without the Earth. Let us care for it through real action , start with ourselves, start today.”
Contributor: Mia Liliawati, S.Pd., Gr.
source: https://unnes.ac.id/pelajari-ekonomi-berkelanjutan-mahasiswa-magister-unnes-kunjungi-ecofarm/
