Yogyakarta, July 21, 2026 – The Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (DFAPT), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, hosted a guest lecture for postgraduate students on Tuesday (July 21), featuring Prof. Peter J. Punt from Leiden University. Entitled “Biotechnology Fast Forward: From Ginkgo Bioworks to Ginkgo’s Lab of the Future,” the lecture introduced the latest advances in industrial biotechnology, highlighting the integration of cell engineering, laboratory automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate innovation across multiple sectors.
During his presentation, Prof. Punt explained how Ginkgo Bioworks has developed a biology engineering platform by combining multidisciplinary expertise, an expanding biological knowledge base, and highly automated laboratory facilities. He highlighted the Design–Build–Test–Grow workflow, an iterative approach that enables researchers to optimize engineered organisms more efficiently, accelerating research while supporting the transition from laboratory-scale development to industrial applications.
In addition to discussing microbial engineering for protein and enzyme production, Prof. Punt introduced the concept of the “Lab of the Future,” where laboratory automation and AI are integrated into the research process. Technologies such as Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) and closed-loop experimentation enable faster, more flexible experiments while generating high-quality datasets to support machine learning-based predictive models.
The guest lecture provided postgraduate students with valuable insights into the latest developments in global biotechnology and the growing role of automation in food, agriculture, and bio-based research. The discussion broadened participants’ perspectives and encouraged them to develop innovative research that addresses future industrial and societal challenges.
This guest lecture reflects the Department’s commitment to advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing internationally oriented learning opportunities, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by strengthening research capacity and biotechnology innovation, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through academic collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada, Leiden University, and global industry partners.
Author: Okta I. Latifa
