Depok, 9 December 2025 — The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI/Indonesian Rubber Research Center), held the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting and the 2025 Rubber Talks Seminar in hybrid. This activity is part of the SATREPS series titled “Project for Development of Complex Technologies for Prevention and Control of Rubber Tree Leaf Fall Disease,” and also serves as a forum for monitoring and evaluating the project. The event took place at the Prof. Dr. Ir. Soemantri Brodjonegoro Auditorium, FMIPA UI, Depok, and was attended by researchers, academics, and stakeholders from Indonesia and Japan, both onsite and online.
Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) is an Indonesia–Japan research cooperation framework established in 2021 that focuses on the development of science and technology for sustainable development. Through this project, the two countries collaborate in developing technologies for the prevention and control of rubber tree leaf fall disease, which poses a serious threat to national rubber productivity.
As an official forum, the 5th JCC carried the theme: “Toward Application of Joint Technologies for New Breeding of Natural Rubber Tree,” which reflects the project’s focus on integrating and applying research outcomes toward the development of disease-resistant rubber tree clones based on a multidisciplinary approach.
Over the five years of implementation, the research team has achieved several important milestones, including new fungicide candidates, more disease-resistant rubber tree clones, genomics and transcriptomics advancements, as well as an AI-based early detection system that utilizes photos, satellite imagery, and drones. These developments demonstrate the strong scientific synergy between Indonesia and Japan in responding to challenges faced by the rubber industry.
The Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dr. Tito Latif Indra, S.Si., M.Si., emphasized the urgency of scientific innovation in maintaining the sustainability of the national rubber plantation sector.
“Leaf fall disease has become a serious challenge for rubber farmers and the rubber industry. Through the SATREPS collaboration, we are building an integrated scientific approach—from plant pathology to artificial intelligence—for earlier detection and more effective control. We hope that these research outputs will serve as a strong foundation for the sustainability of Indonesia’s rubber industry.”
This project collaboration involves UI, IRRI/Indonesian Rubber Research Center, JICA, JST, RIKEN, and partner universities in Japan such as Gifu University, Maebashi Institute of Technology, and Yokohama City University. Each institution contributes according to its area of expertise, creating a multidisciplinary approach that strengthens research integration in achieving the project’s goals.
As a monitoring and evaluation forum, the JCC Meeting serves as a platform for project partners to report research progress, align agendas, and discuss the direction of technology development as the project approaches its conclusion. The research team presented scientific achievements, field survey results, advancements in AI models, and the integration of remote sensing data developed throughout the study.
Complementing the event, the RubberTalks 2025 Seminar was held in hybrid and served as a forum for knowledge exchange between Indonesian and Japanese researchers. The seminar featured keynote speakers from various institutions, including Ir. Hendratmojo Bagus Hudoro, M.Sc. (Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture), Dr. Yuko Makita (Maebashi Institute of Technology), Dr. Fetrina Oktavia (IRRI), Dr. Eng. Masita Dwi Mandini Manessa, S.Si., M.Si., M.Eng. (FMIPA UI), Dr. Stephany Angelia Tumewu (Gifu University), Dr. Tri Rapani Febbiyanti (IRRI), and Dr. Setiari Marwanto, S.P., M.Si. (National Research and Innovation Agency). The speakers presented a range of cutting-edge topics, from disease modeling, AI-based detection, vegetation studies using remote sensing technologies, to field implementation strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience of rubber plants. This cross-disciplinary discussion is expected to encourage broader and more practical adoption of technologies for the national rubber industry
The SATREPS UI Project Manager, Dr. Retno Lestari, emphasized the importance of the project’s final phase in strengthening national research capacity.
“Universitas Indonesia is strongly committed to supporting this research. Through the SATREPS collaboration, we hope to deliver scientific solutions to address leaf fall disease and to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Indonesia’s rubber industry in the future.”
The SATREPS Project Director from IRRI, Dr. Suroso Rahutomo, emphasized that the project’s achievements are the result of a solid multidisciplinary collaboration over the past five years.
“The Indonesia–Japan partnership has enabled the use of multidisciplinary expertise that will strengthen plantation resilience and improve farmers’ welfare.”
From the Japanese side, the SATREPS Project Director, Dr. Minami Matsui, expressed appreciation for the inter-institutional synergy that has been established throughout the implementation of the project.
With the solid collaboration between UI, IRRI/Indonesian Rubber Research Center, JICA, JST, and partner universities in Japan, the implementation of the JCC Meeting and RubberTalks 2025 in hybrid served as a constructive conclusion to the SATREPS project journey, while also laying the foundation for the development of new technologies that will support the resilience and sustainability of Indonesia’s rubber industry in the future.
In addition, research related to the development of new rubber clones has also received support from Yokohama Rubber, which funded the sample analysis process from Palembang as part of this research collaboration. Support from industry can strengthen strategic partnerships between the research sector and industry in promoting sustainable innovation in rubber plant breeding.
