Enviro News Asia, Cianjur — Gunadarma University (UG) strengthens its commitment to smart agriculture and sustainable applied research with the inauguration of the Vitaceae Smart Greenhouse at the UG Technopark area, Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, on Saturday (October 18, 2025). The facility is more than a modern greenhouse—it is a living laboratory that integrates digital technology, agricultural research, and local wisdom.
The inauguration was led by Director General of Higher Education (Dirjen Dikti) Khairul Munadi, who praised the initiative as an ideal synergy between science and nature. “I highly appreciate Gunadarma University’s ability to merge smart technology and nature wisdom. Such an approach has the potential to produce superior crop varieties and strengthen national food security,” he said.
Standing on more than 63 hectares of land, UG Technopark is divided into two main zones: research and development, and agrotourism. The facility serves as a platform for implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education and advancing agricultural research downstream. In its development, UG Technopark applies the pentahelix model, involving academia, government, industry, community, and media. Its partners include IPB, Perhorti, Biotrop, Peripi, and Maporina.
UG Rector Prof. Margianti emphasized the university’s commitment to making Technopark an inclusive research center based on technology. “We are building Technopark as a collaborative ecosystem connecting academics, practitioners, and communities. Sustainable innovation can only be achieved through cross-sector synergy,” she stated.
The Vitaceae Smart Greenhouse is equipped with an Internet of Things (IoT) system that enables remote monitoring of temperature, humidity, and plant nutrients. This technology makes the greenhouse a model of data-driven precision agriculture within an academic environment. Dirjen Dikti also toured other thematic zones at UG Technopark, such as fruit, herbal plants, ornamental plants, renewable energy, and a robotics gallery.
According to Khairul Munadi, universities must become centers of solutions for real societal challenges. “Higher education institutions should bring research to life—becoming living laboratories that address issues such as poverty and stunting. This is the real manifestation of impactful research,” he stressed.
The inauguration of the Vitaceae Smart Greenhouse marks a significant step forward for Indonesia’s higher education in integrating technology, nature, and collaboration toward a sustainable agricultural future. (*)
