UPNVJ Public Relations - Dian Luthfiana Sufyan, a lecturer in the Nutrition Study Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Veterans National Development University (UPNVJ), returned to Indonesia after participating in the SDG Alumni Project 2026 in Germany. In the capacity-building program for alumni of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) scholarship, Dian learned various organic food value chain development practices deemed relevant for implementation in Indonesia.

The event, themed "Sustainable International Agricultural Value Chains," took place from January 7–19, 2026, and was organized by the University of Kassel. The program brought together DAAD alumni from the Global South, including Southeast Asia, South Asia, South America, and Africa, with diverse academic backgrounds.

"I was selected after going through a selection process by the host university as the only participant from Indonesia representing UPNVJ," said Dian in an interview with the public relations team in Jakarta. Dian is currently pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) in the Human Nutrition Department, University of Glasgow, England. Her research focuses on energy consumption regulation, toddler snacking behavior, and its relationship to stunting.

The two-week event, centered at Witzenhausen, the organic agriculture campus of the University of Kassel, featured seminars, workshops, and field trips related to sustainable food systems, organic product marketing, and value chain strengthening.
In one session, Dian presented a hydroponic-based urban farming project she has been pioneering since 2017. The project aims to increase vegetable consumption in urban households. Participants also visited the organic milk cooperative Upländer Bauern Molkerei and the organic product distributor Naturkost Elkershausen.

Dian believes this experience demonstrates that the future global food system must be built sustainably. In Germany, organic products have become part of people's lifestyles. "The 'bio' label is no longer just an option, but a necessity," she said.
He added that the main challenges to organic food development in Indonesia include relatively high product prices, low consumer awareness, and high production and certification costs. However, participants from Southeast Asia agreed that three key steps need to be strengthened: providing incentives for organic farmers, improving consumer education, and strengthening the value chain, infrastructure, and certification system.

According to Dian, the discussions in this program are also closely related to the issue of stunting, which is the focus of her doctoral research. "Food insecurity—whether in terms of availability, affordability, utilization, or stability—is one of the indirect causes of stunting. Therefore, food and environmental policies have a significant impact," she said.

For UPNVJ, which promotes the identity of a National Defense Campus, participation in this international program is seen as strengthening the university's contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developing global networks, and integrating sustainability issues into the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. Dian hopes this experience will inspire academics and stakeholders in Indonesia to work together to build a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable food system.