The Research Center for Biotechnology held a National Seminar on Biotechnology as an annual agenda that has been going on for a long time. This year’s National Seminar on Biotechnology IX was held on October 21 2023, inviting four talented speakers in each field. The four speakers are Marc Alfons M Peeters (Bambu Nusa Verde), Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Sc. (Gadjah Mada University), Ts. Dr. Rabiatul Basria S. M. N. Mydin. (Universiti Sains Malaysia), and Dr. Dian Kesumapramudya, M.Sc., Ph.D., SpA. (Universitas Gadjah Mada).
The theme raised this year is “Biotechnology Approach for Green Transition”. According to the chairman of the committee, Dr. Ir. Mohammad Zainal Abidin, S.Pt., M.Biotech., IPM, this seminar aims to provide a discussion forum between universities, researchers, practitioners, industry and government regarding the latest issues and information related to biotechnology and its application in various fields. In this seminar, participants attend and can communicate in order to contribute to realizing a better quality of life.
The National Seminar on Biotechnology IX began with Plenary session I on Plant Biotechnology by Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si about Plant Piotechnology for supporting food security, and Marc Peeters about the use of Biotechnology in developing Bamboo. The development of food crops and Bamboo will help Indonesia realize a green economy transition as well as Indonesia’s low-carbon and climate resilience strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier. According to Marc Peeters, so far Bamboo has only been considered ‘poor man’s timber’ or wood for poor people, even though in reality Bamboo is ‘Green Gold’, that is renewable green gold for climate change mitigation and a sustainable solution for improving environment quality, social, and economy.
Plenary session II discussed about Health Biotechnology. The material was presented by TS. Dr. Rabiatul Basria S. M. N. Mydin regarding Nanoparticles in Health Biotechnology for preclinical assessment. Other material was presented by Dr. Dian Kesumapramudya, M.Sc., Ph.D, SpA regarding the use of sensor technology and AI in detecting protein biomarkers in blood. These two technologies really help the development of clinical health, especially in terms of detection, diagnosis of disease, and therapy.
After Plenary sessions I and II, there were presentation sessions by the participating speakers. Participants are divided into several clusters, that are Agriculture, Industry and Health. Each cluster has two rooms with 10 presenters each room. All participants were very enthusiastic to listen the presentations made by the speakers because the material presented was varied so they got a lot of new insights and information. Apart from being able to watch the presentation session, participants can also watch to various boots from sponsors such as Wilis Van Java Coffee, PT. Pesona Republik Banana, CropLife Indonesia, Indogen, Indolab Utama, and others.
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Author: Izza Afkarina