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Yurdi Yasmi, also known as Datuk Patiah, is an Indonesian forestry expert currently serving as the Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Previously, he held the position of Deputy Head of FAO for the African continent.

For 17 years, he has been active in international organizations specializing in social forestry, including the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), The Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and FAO. In these capacities, he has led major projects in agriculture, environment, and forestry across more than 20 countries in Asia and Africa, including Afghanistan, North Korea, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Vietnam, Fiji, and others.

Early life and education

Yurdi was born in Nagari VII Koto Talago, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, on July 11, 1974, to Yasmi and Yuminas, both of whom were teachers. He is the second of four siblings. His elder sibling, Yulia Yasmi, and his younger sister, Yennita Martha Linda, are both doctors, while his youngest sibling, Yaumil Wahyudi, works at PT Telkom.

Yurdi spent his childhood and teenage years in his hometown. After completing elementary school in Tanjung Jati, he continued to SMP Negeri Dagung-Dagung (1989–1991). In 1989, he was named the Outstanding Student at the junior high school level in West Sumatra and was invited to the Presidential Palace to meet President Soeharto. He then attended SMA Negeri 2 Payakumbuh (1991–1993). During high school, he participated in the ASEAN Social Forestry Student Association (AFS) exchange program and lived in Sydney, Australia for a year.

Yurdi pursued his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), graduating in 1998. In 1997, he represented his university as a National Outstanding Student, achieving second place. He completed his Master's and Ph.D. degrees at Wageningen University, Netherlands, in 2002 and 2007, respectively. There, he graduated with honors (cum laude) and was one of the fastest graduates at the time.

Carier

Before embarking on a career in international organizations, Yurdi worked as a researcher and lecturer at Wageningen University (2003–2007). Amid his busy schedule, he also served as the Chair of the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) in the Netherlands (2004–2005). Upon returning to Indonesia, Yurdi worked at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) based in Bogor. Subsequently, he became the Director of Research and Development at The Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), overseeing responsibilities across Asia and Africa until 2012.

Subsequently, Yurdi served as the Mekong Regional Program Coordinator for the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Hanoi, Vietnam (2013). He then became the Coordinator for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries at FAO Asia-Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand (2013–2020) and later held the position of Director for Southeast Asia at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2020–2021). Most recently, Yurdi served as the Deputy Head of FAO for the African Region (2021–2024).

Organizations

Currently, Yurdi is one of the vice presidents of the Indonesian Diaspora Network Global (IDN-Global), a position he assumed following the congress held from July 1–4, 2017. Previously, he served as the president of the same organization for Thailand. As a Minangkabau diaspora, he has also held leadership roles as the Chair of the Minang Diaspora Network in Thailand and Cambodia.

He still frequently returns to his hometown as he has been entrusted with the role of penghulu (tribal leader) for his people, holding the title of Datuk Patiah from the Caniago clan.

Awards

In 2022, Yurdi received the Wanabakti Pertama Award from IPB as an outstanding alumnus who has brought honor to his alma mater.

Referneces

1. ^ Hasril Chaniago; Rahmat Irfan Denas, eds. (2023). Ensiklopedia Tokoh 1001 Orang Minang. Vol. 1. Padang: UMSB Press. pp. 284–285.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
2. ^ https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/kuasai-empat-bahasa-asing-pernah-kunjungi-45-negara
3. ^ "Dr Yurdi Yasmi Jadi Kepala IRRI Perwakilan Asia Tenggara". Republika Online (in Indonesian). 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
4. ^ https://pasca.unand.ac.id/unduh/CV%20singkat_Dr.%20Yurdi%20Yasmi_Januari%202018.pdf
5. RM.ID. "Dampak Pandemi Corona Di Asia Tenggara 61 Juta Orang Tidur Kelaparan". Retrieved 2024-12-15.
6. https://foris.fao.org/cofo/programme/COFO_24/speaker/5b43145d74284359405e06aa
7. "FAO Tunjuk Alumni IPB Dr Yurdi Yasmi Sebagai Wakil Kepala FAO Untuk Benua Afrika - Food Station".
8. "Departemen Manajemen Hutan IPB sebagai Center Excellent Pengembangan Ilmu Manajemen Hutan di Indonesia". ANTARA. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
9. "Apresiasi Alumni Berprestasi, Himpunan Alumni IPB Gelar HA IPB Awards 2022". Media Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-12-16.

• Minangkabau people
• People from West Sumatra
• Indonesian scientists