Mini Symposium Marks the Opening of the Summer Course on Plant Protection 2025
Padang, Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, held a Plant Protection Mini Symposium on Wednesday (19/11) at Building I. The event featured four speakers from Indonesia and Vietnam and was moderated by Muhammad Fadli, Ph.D.
Prof. Dr. Musliar Kasim opened the symposium with a session on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), emphasizing efficient water use, increased tillering, and stronger root systems as key factors in boosting rice production. The second presentation by Prof. Dr. Benito Heru Purwanto highlighted the importance of soil health as the foundation of eco-friendly plant protection. He discussed how nutrient management, biochar application, and AWD irrigation systems can enhance plant resistance to pests and diseases. The third speaker, Dr. Le Khac Hoang, addressed global issues in plant protection, including migratory pests such as the brown planthopper, the impacts of climate change, and emerging threats from plant diseases. In the final session, Dr. Tran Thi Hoang Dong presented material on arthropod diversity, underscoring the critical role of natural enemies in biological control within agricultural ecosystems.
The event was attended by lecturers, and students from Faculty of Agriculture. An active discussion followed, focusing on the application of environmentally friendly technologies and opportunities for collaborative research in plant protection. This mini symposium is part of the Plant Protection Department’s efforts to strengthen education, research, and international collaboration in support of sustainable agriculture.
