Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) hosted a public lecture featuring Dr. rer. nat. Christian Haselmair-Gosch from TU Wien, Austria, on August 19, 2026, as part of an ongoing academic collaboration supported by ASEA-UNINET.
Organized by the Agricultural Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, the lecture was held at Lecture Theater 6, Faculty of Agriculture, and brought together students and academics to examine the evolution of food crops and advances in modern plant breeding.
Under the theme “Crop Evolution – From Hunter-Gatherers to New Breeding Techniques,” Dr. Haselmair-Gosch traced the relationship between humans and plants from early domestication and selective cultivation to contemporary breeding technologies.
The discussion highlighted how advances in genetics and biotechnology are enabling researchers to develop crop traits with greater precision in response to emerging agricultural challenges, including the need for productive, adaptable, and resilient food crops.
The lecture also featured Dr. Muhammad Fuad Anshori, S.P., M.Si., from the Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, UNHAS, who presented “Rice Breeding and Genetic Improvement in Resilience to Climate Change.” His presentation added an Indonesian perspective by examining efforts to improve rice varieties through genetics and breeding in response to increasing climate pressures on agricultural production.
Students and members of the academic community gained insight into the links among plant evolution, genetics, breeding technologies, and the future of agriculture. The lecture also gave participants an opportunity to engage directly with international research perspectives.
The event formed part of Dr. Haselmair-Gosch’s visiting research program at UNHAS from August 8–20, 2026, which also included a joint research seminar with the academic community of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology.
By connecting the long history of crop domestication with contemporary breeding science, the program highlighted how agricultural research continues to evolve in response to climate stress, food demand, and changing environmental conditions. The collaboration with TU Wien gives students and researchers a broader scientific context for developing crop systems that are not only more productive, but also better able to withstand future uncertainty.