Banda Aceh, Indonesia – 13 November 2023. Eight leading Indonesian universities — Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), Universitas Jember (Unej), Universitas Lampung (Unila), Universitas Bengkulu (Unib), and Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) — together with the University of California Davis, gathered in Banda Aceh for the Coffee Research Consortium Focus Group Discussion (FGD) 2023.

The meeting, facilitated by USK and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), was aimed at creating a roadmap for collaborative coffee research that integrates academic, industrial, and government perspectives.

The forum also welcomed representatives from the business and industry sector to connect academic discussions with practical challenges. Among them was Roby Wibisono, representing PT Kapal Api Global & KAPPI Global (The Indonesian Coffee Development Education Foundation), who contributed industry perspectives to help align the research roadmap with sector needs and community priorities.

Building on earlier collaboration

The Aceh FGD followed earlier discussions at IPB and the 2023 Aceh International Conference (AIC), which carried the theme “Science and Technology on Coffee and Other Local Commodities for Enhancing Human Prosperity.”

According to Prof. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, Head of USK’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), the Banda Aceh meeting was designed to consolidate inputs from previous sessions and translate them into practical plans.

“We expect the consortium to generate concrete recommendations for coffee research, mapping responsibilities across institutions and defining who will lead specific areas in collaboration,” said Prof. Taufik.

Government’s call for impact

Kemendikbudristek stressed that coffee research must move beyond academic silos to deliver measurable impact. Prof. Dr. Jony Oktavian Haryanto emphasized that fragmented efforts are insufficient:

“The challenges of coffee — from cultivation and processing to marketing — cannot be solved in silos. Universities must work hand in hand with industry and government to deliver innovations that respond to real needs,” he stated.

Adding to this, Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Faiz Syuaib, Director of DRTPM, highlighted the expectation for practical outcomes:

“The consortium must go beyond publications. Communities and industries expect tangible benefits from coffee research. We are seeking LPDP funding to ensure universities and industry can move forward together,” he noted.

Shared priorities

During the FGD, participants agreed on several priorities for the roadmap:

• Coordinating research domains such as cultivation, processing, marketing, and sustainability.
• Assigning institutional responsibilities to reduce duplication of work.
• Securing funding mechanisms, including LPDP, to support collaborative projects.
• Ensuring industry involvement to connect research with real-world application.
• Establishing a long-term collaboration framework that unites academia, government, and industry stakeholders.

The involvement of PT Kapal Api Global and KAPPI Global highlighted the importance of ensuring research agendas address market realities and community needs, rather than remaining confined to academic discussions.

Toward a national roadmap

The FGD reinforced the need for a national roadmap for coffee research, designed as a living document that evolves alongside the sector’s challenges. By linking universities’ expertise with government support and industry engagement, the consortium aims to deliver research that supports farmers, SMEs, and exporters, and contributes to strengthening Indonesia’s position as a global coffee producer.