Indonesia’s 6th President, Prof. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), delivered four key messages on the direction of agricultural economic development during the 50th Anniversary Public Lecture of the Graduate Program in Agricultural Economics (EPN), Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University (6/11).

In his lecture titled “What Can Agriculture Do for Economic in Indonesia”, SBY emphasized four main strategies for agricultural economic development: economic growth, prosperity, sustainability, and social justice. He stated that these principles are universal and remain relevant across time. SBY reminded that economic development should not only be human-centered but must also support environmental well-being. The agricultural sector, he noted, plays a strategic role in creating prosperity, generating employment, and maintaining the sustainability of the national economy.

The Rector of IPB University, Prof. Arif Satria, expressed his appreciation for the presence of SBY and the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas. He highlighted that the future of Indonesia’s economy will be shaped by strong research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-quality human resources. Indonesia currently ranks 55th in the Global Innovation Index, and strengthening innovation is essential for economic growth.Arif also explained IPB University’s innovation transformation pathway, shifting from the Industry 4.0 approach toward Society 5.0, which emphasizes precision, sustainability, humanity, and resilience.

The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Prof. Rachmat Pambudy, added that the development priorities under President Prabowo’s administration focus on food, energy, and water, aligning with the vision he has long championed since leading HKTI.The organizing committee chair, Prof. Yusman Syaukat, expressed hope that the 50-year milestone of EPN would strengthen the contribution of agricultural economics in producing applicable and impactful research for society.

Over the past five decades, the EPN Graduate Program has produced more than 500 doctoral graduates and over 1,000 master’s graduates who have contributed across various sectors, supporting agricultural policy, food security, environmental sustainability, and social justice.This anniversary celebration serves as both a moment of reflection and a reaffirmation of commitment to strengthening collaboration between the government, universities, and professional organizations in facing the challenges of globalization, digitalization, and climate change.