Cocoa is an economically important plantation crop, particularly in overseas trade. Cocoa bean production is also largely affected by pest and disease infestations. How does a company respond to them with research and technology?
The Master of Pest Science, Department of Plant Protection UGM organized a Guest Lecture by Jerome Niogret, Ph.D., from James Cook University and MARS, moderated by Prof. Y. Andi Trisyono. The event took place on July 8, 2025, at the Ventura Room, Agrotropica Learning Center (AGLC), Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. The session, “Advancing Cacao Resilience R&D in Pest and Disease Management from the Cocoa Industry,” was attended by 36 members offline and online via Zoom. The attendees consisted of students and lecturers from UGM and researchers from various institutions in Indonesia.
During this session, Jerome initially discussed his career history and how he turned into an adjunct professor at Master in Pest Science at UGM. He then presented an overview of global cocoa production, with a special focus on Indonesia, and cited pest and disease infestations that threaten cocoa sustainability. He cited the need to develop research infrastructure in Indonesia, particularly through the MARS Academy, which boasts an Advanced Research Laboratory, highlighted as one of the possible opportunities for university and research institute collaboration.
Besides that, Jerome also discussed the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) applied in plant pest and disease control through detection, prevention, and mitigation. Several technologies are currently being researched to develop effective control systems, including mass rearing of cocoa pod borer, Ephestia sp. and Helopeltis sp., also insect pheromone and repellent for preventive and mitigation use.
The session also involved an interactive discussion, during which the attendees were actively engaged with Jerome, querying how insecticide use impacts pollinators, requirements for IPM to be implemented, challenges of applying research, and the use of GC-EAD instruments in researching volatile compounds detected by insect antennae, specifically Conopomorpha cramerella.
Overall, Jerome and Prof. Andi welcomed the opportunity for students to utilize research opportunities at MARS Academy, whether for the undergraduate thesis, master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or through the MBKM program.
This lecture emphasized the Department of Plant Protection UGM’s commitment not only to sustainable pest management but also to helping achieve SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
This collaborative session among UGM, James Cook University, and MARS had practical implications for the future of Indonesian cocoa farming, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and global cooperation as prime forces of agricultural advancement.
Author: Riya Fatma Sari
