A circular economy's essentials

AGRICULTURE, animal production and forestry are vital to the creation of a circular economy, and new methods and approaches to these industries must be explored to promote sustainability.

This was the consensus reached in the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) 9th Graduate Forum held at the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A diverse and multidisciplinary group of experts and scholars from the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia attended to discuss the essence of the circular economy and its relevance across various sectors.

Other topics addressed the challenges and opportunities in creating efficient and sustainable supply chains. The role of circular economy practices in conserving natural resources and combating climate change was also emphasized. Finally, the forum highlighted the importance of technology in mitigating the latter's effects and ensuring food security.

The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources 9th Graduate Forum in Indonesia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Headed by Director Glenn Gregorio, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, which serves as the UC's secretariat, assisted UGM in planning the activity. One of Indonesia's leading higher education institutions, UGM is dedicated to «fostering innovation and collaboration across disciplines to address the world's most pressing challenges.»

Southeast Asian universities represented in the forum by their participating graduate students included the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University and Visayas State University, all from the Philippines; Kasetsart University and Maejo University in Thailand; National Taiwan University in Taiwan; Tokyo University of Agriculture, or Tokyo NODAI, in Japan; Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia; Institut Pertanian Bogor or IPB University, Universitas Brawijaya and UGM in Indonesia.