Innovation continues to drive the enhancement of efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector. The latest breakthrough comes from the Millennial Innovators Team of the Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) Vocational Program students at Undip. The team has achieved the milestone of advancing to the grand final of the NreFest USU 2024 competition. The team members include Galuh Syarila, Amelia Syahrani, and Hilda Zahir Tsanisiwi, under the guidance of their lecturer, Mohamad Endy Yulianto, S.T., M.T. Galuh Syarila, often called Galuh, mentioned that their curiosity about the processing of rice washing water (air leri), which is usually discarded without treatment, led them to explore further and develop ideas that now form the basis of their project. The team captured the attention of the judges with their work titled “Effectiveness of Rice Washing Water-Based Liquid Organic Fertilizer in Enhancing the Growth of Various Vegetable Varieties.” This title illustrates how liquid waste can be used as a medium for liquid organic fertilizer, and the innovations in application that contribute to a green economy. They demonstrated that liquid waste can be transformed into valuable resources, thus reducing production costs and improving plant quality, along with innovations that can aid the agricultural process. As a result, their project succeeded in capturing the judges’ attention and inspiring the public to manage waste more wisely, according to Galuh.
Meanwhile, Amelia Syahrani, commonly known as Amel, shared that in their scientific paper, the team conducted observations based on a review of previous research journals. From these observations, they found that the waste has the potential to be used as liquid organic fertilizer. When washing rice, the water usually appears white or reddish murky, depending on the type of rice. This murky white or reddish color indicates that the outer layer of the rice has been worn away. Although many nutrients have been lost, the bran still contains useful nutrients needed for plant fertility. In addition to nutrients, rice washing water also contains beneficial bacteria for plants, explained Amel. Given this potential, they proposed the application of digitalization for a fermentor integrated with an automatic valve based on the Arduino Uno microcontroller, aiming for efficiency in irrigation that can facilitate nutrient supply for plant growth, thereby accelerating plant production and improving community economics, Amel detailed.
The success of the team advancing to the grand final is a testament to the academic capability and dedication of Undip students in innovating within the field of technology and chemical engineering. Mohamad Endy Yulianto, the Head of the Chemical Engineering Technology Program at Undip, expressed his gratitude and pride in the achievements and accomplishments of his students. Hilda Zahir Tsanisiwi, also known as Hilda, added that the NreFest USU 2024 competition is a prestigious event bringing together students from various universities across Indonesia to compete in the field of New and Renewable Energy. The grand final, to be held in September in Medan, is expected to continue fostering contributions to technology and chemical engineering innovation, and to set an example for other young people to keep innovating and excelling, Hilda concluded.
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