From field research to food policy: Dr. Andi Amran Sulaiman is reshaping Indonesia’s agricultural landscape

The seed of a scientific journey
Dr. Amran’s understanding of agriculture and farmland guided his academic journey at Hasanuddin University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993, master’s degree in 2003, and doctorate in 2012. During his undergraduate years, he encountered a recurring challenge affecting rice farmers—the devastating impact of rat infestations, which set the direction of his scientific work.

“Across Indonesia’s vast paddy fields, rodents caused major yield losses. For smallholder farmers, these losses were not just statistics; they affected income, food supply, and household security,” recalls Dr. Amran. “Available control methods were either ineffective at scale or impractical for smallholders to apply consistently.”

Realizing that this challenge could not be solved from laboratory alone, he took to sustained field trials—testing, listening to farmers, refining, and testing again. “I worked closely with farmers to understand where and how rodent pressure occurred throughout the cropping cycle, which led to the development of the rodenticide Tiran 58PS and the Alpostran fumigation machine—solutions that were robust, affordable, and easy to operate,” he recalls. The approach was validated through its adoption across 34 provinces in Indonesia and internationally. This farmer-centered, iterative approach to technology development shaped his later work.

Bridging research, innovation, and entrepreneurship
Dr. Amran’s career expanded beyond research in roles such as the Project Coordinator for the Tinanggea Sugarcane Project and Head of Logistics at PTPN XIV, which placed him closer to the operational realities of large agricultural systems. He realized that technology alone could not solve farmers’ problems unless supported by logistics, infrastructure, markets, and governance.

His entrepreneurship journey, beginning with CV Empos Tiran in 1996 and later expanding into Tiran Group, reinforced this perspective. “Innovation must be manufactured, distributed, and financially sustainable if it is to reach people at scale,” says Dr. Amran.

Translating science into policy and practice
It was these experiences that influenced his policymaking when he assumed the role of Minister of Agriculture. In a country spread across thousands of islands, agricultural reform cannot remain at the level of administrative intent. Dr. Amran prioritized reforms in fertilizer distribution, food self-sufficiency, strategic reserves, irrigation, mechanization, seed systems, and digital agriculture. Reflecting on the development of a streamlined framework for fertilizer distribution, also one of his significant achievements, he says, “I realized the importance of fertilizer distribution, as timely and affordable access to fertilizer is a precondition to every other productivity goal.”

The resulting increase in national rice production and the self-sufficiency ratio, helped shift Indonesia from a net importer toward a surplus position, reflecting the significance of these reforms. The initiatives also expanded strategic rice reserves, while improvements in fertilizer management and production systems coincided with higher Farmer’s Terms of Trade and reduction in rural poverty.

Hasanuddin University as a lifelong anchor
Reflecting on his long association with Hasanuddin University and the scientific foundation and mentorship that supported his early research, Dr. Amran says, “Throughout this journey, Hasanuddin University has remained a central anchor.” Since 2010, he has remained actively engaged in academia as a lecturer in entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises at the Faculty of Agriculture. Beyond teaching, he also serves as Chair of the Hasanuddin University Alumni Association (IKA Unhas), representing a community of over 250,000 alumni.

Emphasizing university’s role in student development, he says, “They should prepare students to connect science with entrepreneurship.” He added that mentoring students in agricultural sustainability and enterprise development has been “one of the most rewarding parts” of his career.

Looking ahead: future of Indonesia’s agriculture
With growing agricultural exports, Dr. Amran envisions Indonesia’s agriculture moving beyond self-sufficiency toward a stronger regional and global role. His priorities include climate resilient-farming, adaptive cropping systems, modernized seed systems, digital agriculture, and greater smallholder integration into value chains.

His work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), through efforts to strengthen food security, improve farmer welfare, and advance evidence-based agricultural policy. He emphasizes that sustainable reform depends on strong institutions, integrity, and science-based decisions. “If this integrated approach continues to deliver resilient, equitable, and sustainable agricultural development in Indonesia,” he says, “I will consider it to be my most meaningful contribution.”