Yogyakarta, March 19, 2025 – The Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program, Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Faculty of Agriculture UGM, together with the Prospect Institute, organized a guest lecture titled Prospect Talks #46 Goes to Campus with the theme “Future Agriculture: Agricultural Innovation and the Role of CSR in Achieving It”. This guest lecture featured speakers Rinda Primawarto, CSR Manager of PLN Nusantara Power, and Prof. Subejo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM. In this event, Dani Bina Margiana, Training, Certification, & Publishing Supervisor, moderated the panel discussion.
This guest lecture discussed how Indonesia faces various strategic challenges in agricultural and rural development. The high rate of population growth, the threat of climate change, land resource degradation, and the stagnation of farmer regeneration have become serious problems that need to be addressed immediately. Based on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) data, Indonesia’s position has continued to decline in the last three years, reflecting a sub-optimal national food security condition. On the other hand, digital transformation and the emergence of a technology-based young generation of farmers create new opportunities to strengthen this sector sustainably.
It is in this context that the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) becomes very important as part of a pentahelix collaboration-based development model. This collaboration involves five main elements: government, business actors, academics, community, and media. CSR is not only a part of corporate image branding strategy but also a strategic instrument in increasing agricultural productivity, optimizing local resources, and strengthening farmer institutional capacity.
Through a targeted CSR approach, corporations can contribute in various aspects: from providing basic infrastructure, technology assistance, improving the quality of farmer human resources, to developing creative economies based on local commodities. For example, the partnership built between PT PLN through its CSR program and local farmer groups shows that public-private partnerships can be a solution to the state’s various resource limitations.
Furthermore, the involvement of information and communication technology (ICT) in agricultural development — such as through the DESA Apps developed by UGM — strengthens the argument that CSR also needs to be directed to support agricultural digitalization. The active involvement of students, researchers, extension workers, and business actors in this ecosystem is a tangible manifestation of sustainable agricultural development that is inclusive and adaptive to the challenges of the times. Thus, the combination of CSR contributions and a multistakeholder development approach becomes the key to creating an agricultural system that is not only productive, but also competitive and resilient amidst evolving global dynamics.