Students from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), have demonstrated their excellence on the national stage. Muhammad Rasyid Ramadhan and the AVICENNA team, consisting of Kalang Rifqi Abror and Febiana Az-Zahra from the 2022 Chemical Engineering cohort, secured first place at the prestigious POISE UGM 2024 competition. They garnered attention with their innovative project, FERGEL: A Nanocellulose-based Hydrogel Slow-Release Fertilizer Product from Cassava Gum (Manihot Esculenta) to Release Water and Macronutrients.
FERGEL is an innovation designed to address significant challenges in Indonesia’s agricultural sector, such as soil degradation and water scarcity in drought-prone areas. This product utilizes nanocellulose derived from cassava gum to create a hydrogel fertilizer capable of absorbing water up to 270 times its weight. This ability reduces irrigation needs by up to 30%, making it an ideal solution for drylands.
FERGEL offers several advantages, including irrigation efficiency that reduces water requirements by up to 30%. It also provides optimal nutrition by gradually releasing phosphate and other essential nutrients, supporting healthier plant growth. The product is also cost-effective, priced competitively at Rp300,000 per 50 kg, making it affordable for small and medium farmers. Additionally, FERGEL can improve crop yields by 15-20% while maintaining soil fertility sustainably.
The implementation plan for FERGEL spans five stages over five years, from research to mass production. Financial projections show a Net Present Value (NPV) of Rp1.997 trillion, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 43.87%, and a payback period of just 1.9 years. These figures highlight that investment in this product is highly promising, both for the agricultural sector and the national economy.
“This innovation not only meets the needs of modern agriculture but also supports environmental sustainability and national food security. We hope that FERGEL will be a step towards greener and more efficient agricultural practices,” said Muhammad Rasyid Ramadhan, one of the AVICENNA team members.
POISE UGM 2024, which stands for Process Engineering Series of Events, is an annual competition organized by the Chemical Engineering Student Association, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada. With the theme “Empowering Industry Innovation: Cultivating Sustainable Future for the Green Economy,” the event aims to encourage student innovations that support the transition to a green economy and achieve net-zero emissions targets. This competition attracted 21 teams from prominent universities across Indonesia.
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Public Communications Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
