Gunungkidul, 18 July 2025 – Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) participated in the Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival 2025, held from 18 to 20 July 2025 at the Agricultural Technology Park (Taman Teknologi Pertanian or TTP) Embung Nglanggeran, Gunungkidul. This annual festival carried the theme “Local Chocolate with Global Competitiveness” and served as a vital platform for local chocolate industry players to expand their networks and introduce their products to a wider audience.
On this occasion, Sekolah Vokasi UGM’s participation was coordinated by the Center of Excellence (CoE) Cocoa in collaboration with the Agroindustrial Product Development Study Program, Department of Biological and Veterinary Technology. SV UGM took part in the Chocolate Farmers and MSME Bazaar of the Yogyakarta Special Region by showcasing innovative chocolate-based products developed through collaboration between students and lecturers. These products represent the downstream results of research and technological development in the agroindustry sector that has been consistently carried out by SV UGM.
In addition to the product exhibition, SV UGM through CoE Cocoa also conducted direct market research with festival visitors. The research aimed to explore consumer preferences for new chocolate product variants currently under development. The results will serve as valuable input for refining product formulations and designing more targeted marketing strategies.
SV UGM’s participation in this festival also serves as a concrete contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger, through support for food security based on local commodities
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, through the application of research and innovation in the development of the local chocolate industry
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through education and the provision of sustainable processed food products
The Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival 2025 is expected to serve as a collaborative space for academia, communities, and business actors in building an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable local chocolate ecosystem.
Writer: Budi Ariyani Hermawati
Documentation: CoE Cocoa Team