Bogor, 07 April 2026 – In an effort to strengthen internal capacity and promote the implementation of sustainability principles, SEAMEO BIOTROP organized an In-House Training (IHT) program entitled Circular Economy. The opening of the activity was held on 7 April 2026, at the Jati Room. The training itself runs from 7 April to 25 May 2026, at the SEAMEO BIOTROP Campus in Bogor, Indonesia.

A total of 18 participants are taking part in this program, consisting of prospective internal instructors from diverse educational backgrounds, ranging from junior high school, senior high school, to higher education levels, representing both the program and administration divisions. The program is designed not only to enhance participants’ theoretical understanding but also to strengthen their practical skills in implementing circular economy concepts within their work environment and the wider community.

In his remarks, the Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP, Prof. Edi Santosa, emphasized the importance of applying circular economy principles based on the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). He stated that the expected outputs of this program include the development of products that support the 4R principle by maximizing resource utilization, particularly in biological products, where all components can be utilized without generating waste. “Ultimately, biological products will decompose and return to the environment as compost, creating a sustainable cycle,” he explained. He also expressed hope that the implementation of circular economy practices at BIOTROP will extend beyond biological aspects to include mechanical and operational aspects.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director for Program, Dr. rer. Nat Doni Yusri S., SP., MM , highlighted that research and studies should not stop at written reports but must be communicated and applied in real contexts, particularly in circular economy practices. He added that a combination of training and hands-on practice serves as the main approach in this program.

The activity coordinator, Risa Rosita, S.Si., M.Si. , explained that this training is a collaborative effort between the SITD and HRAD Departments. The program aims to enhance participants’ understanding and skills in circular economy concepts, not only through theory but also through direct practice. “We aim to shift the paradigm that waste is no longer merely residual material, but a valuable resource,” she stated.

Furthermore, she added that participants are expected to identify various potentials for waste utilization to support the implementation of circular economy principles. In addition, the program is designed to strengthen the competencies of internal instructors who will later provide training to senior high school teachers in several regions, including Lampung, Yogyakarta, and Lombok.

The training materials are delivered by academics from IPB University and SEAMEO BIOTROP. The external resource persons involved in this training are as follows: Dr. Supriyanto (Affiliate Scientist, SEAMEO BIOTROP); Dr. rer. agr. Eva Anggraini, S.Pi., M.Si. (IPB University); Dr. Leopold Oscar Nelwan (IPB University).; Prof. Nahrowi Ramli (IPB University); and Dr. Muhamad Yulianto (IPB University). 

In general, the materials cover an introduction to circular economy and its application in biological waste management, the development of circular economy-based business models, and practical implementation through various case studies, such as the utilization of aromatic plant waste, conversion of rice straw into biomass energy, utilization of mushroom baglog waste, and bioconversion of household waste using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggots.

Through this program, participants are expected to improve their competencies in understanding and applying circular economy concepts, foster the development of reliable internal instructors, and produce training models that can be widely replicated. SEAMEO BIOTROP also reaffirms its commitment to supporting the principles of science, technology, and sustainability in order to promote a more efficient and sustainable resource management system.