Yogyakarta, 3 December 2025 — The INUCoST (Indonesian-Netherlands Universities Consortium for Sustainable Futures) Team of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully held a training program titled “Hands-on Workshop: How to Make Herbarium and Identification of Nusantara Spices” on Saturday (29/11). Taking place at the Tropical Biology Auditorium, the event served as a strategic platform to promote biodiversity conservation while exploring the immense potential of Indonesia’s rich spice heritage.
The workshop was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., who also serves as the Coordinator of Work Package 2 of the INUCoST Team. In his remarks, Prof. Budi emphasized the importance of synergy between botanical sciences and industry needs to ensure the sustainability of Indonesia’s natural resources.
A key highlight of this event was the unique collaboration between international academic expertise and local industry practitioners. Serving as speakers were Prof. Dr. rer.nat. P.J.A. Kessler from Hortus Botanicus, IBL Plant Science – Institute of Biology Leiden, the Netherlands, and Asri Saraswati Iskandar, Founder of Agradaya, a social enterprise focused on the sustainable development of spices in Yogyakarta.
In the first session, Asri Saraswati Iskandar shared insights on spices from an industry perspective. She discussed the economic value and vast market potential of Indonesian spices in today’s global landscape, providing a clear picture of how biological commodities can be managed professionally while generating social impact.
The next session focused on more scientific and technical aspects with Prof. Kessler. Participants were introduced not only to plant identification theory but also engaged in hands-on herbarium preparation techniques using Nusantara spice specimens. Prof. Kessler underscored that standardized herbarium preparation is essential as a foundational taxonomic database and a valid reference for future botanical research.
This activity also aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through knowledge transfer from international experts and collaboration with industry partners, the Faculty of Biology UGM aims to strengthen human resource capacity in biodiversity conservation while fostering inclusive and sustainable global partnerships.
The enthusiasm of participants was evident from the highly interactive discussions throughout the event. By combining technical herbarium-making skills with industry perspectives, the workshop is expected to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge, empowering them to contribute to the preservation and innovative utilization of Indonesia’s spice biodiversity.
