International students of the Master of Business Administration Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (MBA FEB UGM) conducted a field visit to Erista Garden, located in Pakem, Yogyakarta. The visit, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, was part of the Business Ethics for Sustainability course led by Prof. Dr. Eko Suwardi, M.Sc., Ph.D. Students observed the cultivation of butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea) as an innovation in the food and beverage business, while also receiving hands-on experience in planting as a contribution to green environmental practices.
The Erista Garden team introduced students to PT Erista Garden Asri, a business entity with multiple units including a restaurant, plant cultivation site, and a basic goods retail store (sembako). Initially focused solely on selling plants, Erista Adi Setya (widely known as Pak Erista), the founder, expanded the business into cultivation, seeding, and direct retail through the establishment of Erista Agrimart. Inspired by his passion for plants, he envisioned a garden with an integrated dining experience, leading to the creation of two restaurants under the business: Erista Griyo Dhahar (serving traditional cuisine infused with butterfly pea) and Kopi Padasan (specializing in coffee and Western dishes).
During the visit, students toured the garden and the butterfly pea cultivation area. The Erista Garden team guided them through the planting process—from selecting seeds, preparing the planting medium, fertilizing, and finally watering the plants.
Anindita Puspandari Widyaningrum, a student of IMBA Batch 85, shared her excitement about the activity.
“Planting seedlings together with Prof. Eko and friends was such a memorable experience. Especially doing it with international classmates—it’s something many of us, including local students, haven’t done before,” she said.
This field visit not only fostered hands-on learning but also encouraged deeper appreciation for sustainable agricultural practices in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Reporter: Fitrianti Rizqi
Documentation: Ayu Aprilia
Editor: Ayu Aprilia
