The Research Cluster for Mathematical Modeling and Optimization (RC-MMO), Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM), Diponegoro University (UNDIP), supports the World Class University Program through an international community service initiative in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The program is led by Prof. Dr. Widowati, S.Si., M.Si., with team members Dr. Sutrisno, S.Si., M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. Dra. Meiny Suzery, M.S.; and Dr. Jafron Wasiq Hidayat, M.Sc. The partner representative from the Biotechnology Research Institute, UMS, is Assoc. Prof. Cahyo Budiman, Ph.D. This activity involves undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from UNDIP, as well as residents of Rowosari Village. The international community service program takes place in Rowosari Village, Tembalang District, Semarang, under the theme of community food security through integrated urban farming combining catfish cultivation and vertical hydroponics. The integrated urban farming initiative offers great potential as an effort to achieve food security by utilizing local resources—specifically, available land around residential areas.
Widowati stated that the integrated hydroponic farming system combined with fish cultivation is an innovative solution for implementing urban farming to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger.The program began with community outreach in early March 2025, followed by training sessions, mentoring, and hands-on practice in developing integrated urban farming systems combining catfish cultivation and hydroponic planting. The culmination of the activity took place on June 30, 2025, marked by the release of catfish fingerlings and the planting of hydroponic vegetables such as lettuce, pak choy, and water spinach.
The next activity was a discussion between the International Community Service Team and the leadership of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM), attended by the Dean of FSM, Prof. Dr. Kusworo Adi, S.Si, and the Vice Dean for Resources, Dr. Eng. Adi Wibowo, S.Si., M.Kom, held in Building AP, 2nd Floor. The discussion focused on the implementation of cooperation with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in the areas of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education (education, research, and community service), as well as future activities, including the formation of a consortium for a joint summer camp (August 4–15, 2025) with the theme:“From Biodiversity to Health and Nutrition: Bridging Green Chemistry and Biotechnology for Sustainable Solutions.” The meeting also addressed plans for student mobility programs, enabling UNDIP students to participate in academic exchanges at UMS. At the end of the meeting with FSM leadership, the session concluded with the signing of an Implementation Arrangement between the Research Cluster for Mathematical Modeling and Optimization (RC-MMO) and relevant study programs within FSM UNDIP, together with the Biotechnology Research Institute, UMS.
Widowati emphasized that the training and mentoring provided by the Community Service Team were carried out intensively, enabling residents to optimize the use of land around their homes. By engaging local communities, urban farming not only serves as a solution to meet food needs but also becomes a platform to strengthen social networks, improve environmental quality, and stimulate the local economy. To further enhance the effectiveness of urban farming activities, the team organized a workshop on “Biotechnology Innovation for Sustainable Urban Farming,” featuring Assoc. Prof. Cahyo Budiman, Ph.D. from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) as the keynote speaker. The workshop was conducted in a hybrid format—offline at the Rowosari Village Hall and online via Zoom. The event received enthusiastic participation from Rowosari residents, as well as students from Diponegoro University (UNDIP) across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, alongside participants from the Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
According to Widowati, the goal of this community service activity is to enhance food security by ensuring access to healthy and sustainable food sources; to increase community knowledge and competence regarding integrated urban farming systems; to improve facilities and optimize the use of limited land for integrated urban farming; and to strengthen community skills in preparing hydroponic growing media, producing seedlings, and maintaining the systems effectively. Furthermore, during discussions between Prof. Widowati, Head of the Research Cluster for Mathematical Modeling and Optimization (RC-MMO), and Assoc. Prof. Cahyo Budiman, it was agreed that, in addition to community service activities, there will also be collaborative research focusing on mathematical modeling and optimization. This collaboration aims to produce high-quality research outputs that can be published in reputable international journals, lead to intellectual property rights (IPRs), and be translated into practical applications that benefit society. “It is important to emphasize that the implementation of this collaborative initiative should be sustainable and continuous,” Widowati concluded.