In 12 March 2026, a warm sense of togetherness marked a communal iftar gathering organized by lecturers and student researchers affiliated with the Pest Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Held at the IMB Restaurant, Department of Fisheries, the event served as a meaningful occasion to strengthen academic relationships while fostering more relaxed and open communication beyond formal settings. The gathering was attended by distinguished lecturers—Dr. Ir. Arman Wijonarko, M.Sc., Dr. Ir. Nugroho Susetya Putra, M.Si., and Dr. Prayogo Probo Asmoro, S.P., M.Si.—as well as undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students actively conducting research in pest science and utilizing the laboratory facilities. read more

The Plant-Parasitic Nematode Molecular Identification Training 2026 will be held on April 8–9, 2026, at the Department of Plant Pests and Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This program is designed to enhance participants’ skills and knowledge in molecular identification, particularly of plant-parasitic nematodes that play a significant role in the agricultural sector. Over the course of two days, participants will receive comprehensive materials ranging from the fundamentals of molecular identification to hands-on training in DNA extraction and PCR techniques, as well as primer design, sequencing data analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction. read more

The Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada successfully held an international guest lecture in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Biology, Germany, on Monday, March 2, 2026. The event took place at the Venture Room, Agrotropica Learning Center (AGLC), and featured Claire McCann, Ph.D., as the keynote speaker. She delivered a presentation titled “Evolutionary Genomics of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis,” highlighting recent advances in the study of evolutionary genomics of plant pathogens, particularly bacteria affecting horticultural crops. read more

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an international guest lecture on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the Venture Room, 6th Floor of the AGLC Building. The event featured three distinguished scholars from leading universities in Japan: Dr. Sota Yamamoto from Kagoshima University, Dr. Nabeshima Tomoyuki from Yamagata University, and Dr. Sota Koeda from Kindai University. During the session, the speakers presented several research topics related to recent developments in horticultural science and plant diseases in the Asia–Pacific region. The topics included Dispersal Routes of Chili Peppers in the Asia–Pacific Region, which discussed the historical and geographical pathways of chili pepper distribution in the Asia–Pacific; Studies on Cuticle Cracking in Cherry Tomato Fruit, which examined the phenomenon of cuticle cracking in cherry tomatoes; and Genetic Diversity of Begomoviruses and Resistance-based Disease Management in Vegetables, which highlighted the genetic diversity of Begomoviruses and strategies for disease management based on plant resistance. The scientific discussion was moderated by Dr. Adyatma Irawan Santosa and Enik Nurlaili Afifah from the Faculty of Agriculture UGM. read more

Three of the fastest graduates from the 2022 cohort of the Plant Protection Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada, were officially conferred their degrees on February 25, 2026, in a solemn graduation ceremony. The three graduates are Agis Fauzi Gufron from Jember, Sofyan Ibrahim from Klaten, and Ashim Syarif Krisnaputra from Yogyakarta. Their achievement in completing their studies within a notably short period has drawn particular attention within the faculty.

All three students were supervised by Prof. Dr. Ir. Fransiscus Xaverius Wagiman, S.U., a senior academic who is entering retirement this year after decades of dedicated service in the field of plant protection. Under his guidance, the students demonstrated strong dedication, academic consistency, and effective time management throughout their coursework and thesis completion. read more