The background for organizing this workshop lies in the persistent global health issue of cancer, which remains a leading cause of high mortality rates and ranks as the second most common cause of death worldwide. Conventional cancer treatment methods, including chemotherapy and surgery, have not yielded optimal results due to the significant side effects that impact the quality of life for patients. These side effects are often associated with the lack of specificity in chemotherapy drugs, which also damage normal cells.

The 8th National Biotechnology Seminar is an annual event organized by the Master’s Program in Biotechnology in collaboration with The Research Center for Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada. This seminar takes place each year and is divided into four areas: agriculture, health, industry, and environment. In 2022, the 8th Biotechnology Seminar was able to be held in person due to the subsiding COVID-19 pandemic, with strict adherence to health protocols.

The theme of the 8th National Biotechnology Seminar was “Biotechnology for Climate Change and Global Warming Mitigation.” This theme was chosen in response to the wide-ranging implications of climate change on food security, health, safety, and the need for adaptation to a changing climate. Various strategies, utilizing biotechnological approaches, can be applied to address climate change. Thus, in line with the implementation of the 13th SDG.

The National Seminar took place on Saturday, October 29, 2022, in the Auditorium of the 5th floor of the Graduate School Building at UGM. The event was attended by approximately 120 participants from various educational backgrounds. There were four keynote speakers for the seminar:

1. Prof. Widodo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D.
2. Prof. Dr. Ir. Alim Isnansetyo, M.Sc.
3. Prof. R. Manjunatha Kini
4. Prof. Tatsuo Sato, Ph.D.

The seminar was conducted while adhering to the prevailing health protocols, ensuring the safety of all attendees.

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that the National Seminar IX will be organized, continuing the tradition with an even better theme than in previous years. The goal would likely be to further enhance the quality of the seminar, addressing emerging topics and fostering discussions among researchers, experts, and participants to contribute to advancements in the field of biotechnology.

The training began with an introductory presentation delivered by Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si., who is also the Head of The Research Center for Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada. Following this, practical sessions were conducted in the Biochemistry Laboratory under the guidance of our laboratory technician, Mrs. Arsiyah.

With the existence of such training, these initiatives can be continually carried out. Apart from fostering camaraderie, they also serve as a means to impart knowledge to those who require it, ultimately proving beneficial for the future in accordance with SDG 4 and also promote health in accordance with SDG 3.

Sleman, July 28, 2022. Healthy food is the key to healthy growth and development, especially in children during their growth period. Nutritional intake is not only obtained at home but also often from the environment, including schools. A survey conducted by BPOM in 2010 stated that more than 70% of food poisoning incidents from snacks occurred among elementary school students. The selection of safe foods and snacks for children is crucial to prevent similar incidents from recurring within the school environment.

Coinciding with the celebration of National Children’s Day on July 23rd, The Research Center for Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Master’s Program in Biotechnology at UGM, in collaboration with DPKM UGM, organized a Community Service Program for elementary school students in Ngaglik District, Sleman. The event, themed “Edukasi Raja Manta” (Safe and Healthy Snacking Movement), aimed to encourage elementary school students to pay more attention to their choice of snacks consumed at school.

The activities took place at SDN Seloharjo on July 27th and SDN Sukosari on July 28th, and involved students from grades 1 to 6. The event began with presentations and quizzes about safe and healthy foods and snacks, followed by various interactive games related to the same theme. All participants were enthusiastic about participating in the entire series of events.

“Consuming healthy food is a fundamental aspect of children’s growth and development, especially in supporting their learning process at school. However, many children still struggle to differentiate safe snacks for consumption, often causing shared concerns. Hence, I believe this activity is of great importance to provide elementary school students with the knowledge and ability to recognize and choose safe and healthy foods,” stated Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si., the head of the community service program and also the Head of The Research Center for Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The principal of SDN Seloharjo, Drs. Japar, and SDN Sukosari, Haryana, S.Pd.I., agreed that in today’s era, there is a need for education about safe and healthy snacks with unique packaging. This education serves as a foundation for children to be more mindful about the snacks they consume outside the supervision of parents or teachers.

In addition to Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si., the implementation of this program also involved Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, M.Sc., the Head of the Doctoral Program in Biotechnology; Dr. Dini Wahyu Kartika Sari, S.Pi., M.Si., the Head of the Master’s Program in Biotechnology; students from the Master’s Program in Biotechnology at UGM’s Graduate School; and students from UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM). The program organizers also partnered with a local micro, small, and medium enterprise (UMKM) called Niki Ulam, which is under the supervision of the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture at UGM. This UMKM provided various healthy snacks based on processed fish for SDN Seloharjo and SDN Sukosari.

It is hoped that this activity will not end here. In the future, schools may consider establishing a “Healthy Canteen” to provide safe and healthy food within the school environment. This activity is in line with the 3th SDG on health.