The agribusiness and food industry sector in Indonesia faces evolving challenges, ranging from climate uncertainty to the integrity of the halal supply chain from upstream to downstream. Within this landscape, Akhmad Mahbubi, S.P., M.M., Ph.D. serves as an academic and researcher in the Agribusiness Study Program at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. 

With more than 16 years of dedicated service, he consistently shares his knowledge in the classroom while delivering tangible research contributions to society.

Academic Journey and Areas of Expertise

Akhmad Mahbubi's academic career at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta began in 2011. He completed his doctoral studies (S3) at the Graduate School of Agriculture, Department of Agribusiness Management, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan.

As a lecturer, he teaches Agribusiness Accounting and Agribusiness Risk Management for the undergraduate level (S1), as well as Agribusiness Management for the master's level (S2). His research focus and scientific expertise encompass:

• Halal Supply Chain Management
  
• Agribusiness Risk Management
  
• Gastro-Tourism & Local Food-Based Ecotourism
  
• Young Agribusiness Development (Agripreneurship)

Agribusiness Challenges: Halal Supply Chain & Local Food

In his view, the agricultural business possesses unique characteristics compared to other industries, as it directly deals with natural elements, weather uncertainty, and price fluctuations. Beyond climate factors, another crucial challenge in Indonesia is ensuring the traceability of raw food material halal status.

“The challenge moving forward lies in upstream-to-downstream traceability. Many imported raw materials require critical evaluation regarding their halal status, such as gelatin, where nearly half of the global supply originates from non-halal sources. This presents both a major challenge and an opportunity for our local producers,” he explained.

Additionally, he highlights the importance of local commodities for tourism (gastro-tourism). According to him, both international and domestic tourists constantly seek authentic local culinary experiences. Integrating natural tourism with local food potential creates strong economic value for communities.

Young Agripreneur Innovation & Project-Based Learning

His research on young agricultural entrepreneurs (agripreneurs) notes that the primary key to success for Millennials and Gen Z is critical and innovative thinking. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the young entrepreneurs who survived were those who processed raw harvests into value-added products (such as packaged peanut sauce) and marketed them digitally.

His teaching methodology prioritizes a case study and project-based learning approach:

• International Perspectives: Examining insights from global experts, such as Prof. Ray Goldberg (the pioneer of the agribusiness concept from Harvard Business School).
• Local Field Practice: In the Agribusiness Risk Management course, students go directly into the field to identify, map, and mitigate risks facing local agricultural MSMEs. The results of this field analysis are published annually in scientific publications.

Soft Skills and the Power of Dreams

Beyond technical aspects, he emphasizes that honesty, integrity, attitude, communication skills, and teamwork are far more decisive for workplace success than GPA alone.

“Research shows that the primary attributes industry looks for in university graduates are soft skills integrity, communication, and teamwork. GPA comes later. These values must be integrated across all academic courses,” he asserted.

To students, he offers valuable advice regarding enthusiasm and the courage to dream. The key to moving forward and recovering from setbacks whether academic or personal is to remember the dreams one has written down.

Aspiration for the Future of Agribusiness at UIN Jakarta

Concluding the interview, Akhmad Mahbubi shared his vision for the institution. He hopes that Agribusiness at UIN Jakarta will eventually establish an independent Faculty of Agriculture to enhance focus and autonomy. Furthermore, he advocates for launching a Doctoral (S3) Program in Agribusiness to cultivate highly qualified agricultural researchers and experts in Indonesia.