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IPB TAKES PART IN WORLD AGRICULTURE CONGRESS
To prove its worth as a world class university, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) takes an active part in as many international events as possible
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o prove its worth as a world class university, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) takes an active part in as many international events as possible.
As a member of the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) IPB sent three representatives to the association's 52nd world congress in Mexico this July.
The representatives were agricultural technology student Denis Andreas, human ecology student Purnawati Hustina Rachman and Titis Anugraheni Putri Apdini from the school of animal sciences.
The Indonesian delegation went to the "Biodiversity Now, Food for Tomorrow" congress with a mission to present its credentials as the host of the next congress.
The purpose of the congress, in general, is to unite students to exchange ideas and knowledge on agricultural issues. IAAS Indonesia is preparing to host the congress with the theme "The Power of Local Resources to Support: Food, Energy and Trade" next year in five cities: Malang, East Java, Solo and Semarang in Central Java, Bandung and Bogor in West Java and Kendari in Central Sulawesi.
For three weeks in Mexico, 15 delegations sharpened their skills with a general assembly, development fund night, international evening, university fair and trade fair.
The participants also shared their knowledge of agriculture issues through seminars, workshops, excursions and working groups.
The general assembly was held in the first week of the congress. The delegations had to present a country report on events the students had conducted in their country. They also voted to determine the IAAS executive committee for the following year.
On the development fund night, each delegation donated a souvenir from their country for auction. The money collected will go towards the cost of the next IAAS event.
Lecturers from the University of Technologico de Monterey, Mexico, were invited as keynote speakers; they presented their latest research on one of Mexico's main commodities, Amaranth, which is used for food and medicine.
The participants attended workshops on the production of Guava Roll candy and panela cheese.
They were also were given a close look at Mexico's agricultural industries with excursions to an organic cactus farm, tequila farm, strawberry and avocado farms. They were introduced to Mexico's agricultural technology with a visit to Monsanto, insect pest management Koppert and vegetable supplier Fresh Max.
A tour to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan added to the experience, giving students a chance to learn how the Aztec's lived in the earlier ages. They also took salsa dancing lessons to promote the country's culture.
IPB's participation in the world congress was made possible by the government through a scholarship program controlled by the Bureau for Planning and International Relations at the National Education Ministry.
The bureau, head by Agus Sartono, sent students to study abroad in 2008 and this year is running a program that provides scholarships for foreign students and students in acceleration programs.
The delegation is also supported by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, which provides promotion materials on Indonesia.
Purnawati Hustina Rachman and Titis Anugraheni Putri Apdini
