A team of students from the Food Science and Technology Study Program, Universitas Hasanuddin, have won a Bronze Medal in Darulaman International Innovation, Competition and Exhibition 2021 (DiICE’21).
The team consists of four students: Muhammad Hanif Muflih, Andi Nisra Fasirah, Annisa Batara dan Indah Pratiwi.
DiICE’21 was organized by the Institute of Teacher Education, Darulaman Campus, in collaboration with the State Government of Kedah Darul Aman, Center of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeogTech) and Malaysian Research & Innovation Society (MyRIS), University of Perlis Malaysia (UniMAP).
During the interview on Friday (16/07), Muhammad Hanif Muflih, a team representative, explained his participation with other team members in the DilCE’21 competition to sharpen their talents and abilities. Therefore, the competition also can enrich the experience and increase knowledge and self-confidence.
“Being directly involved in the competition is an achievement. We joined this competition because we wanted to gain experience, and Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), the results were satisfactory. We are very proud to be able to pass all stages of selection to win this Bronze Medal,” explained Muhammad Hanif.
DiICE’21 carries the theme “Enhancing the Innovation of Education in the Industrial Revolution 4.0”. The participants had the opportunity to present their innovations, inventions, and exciting designs created to commercialize their innovations and ideas. So that participants can realize and develop collaborations in the commercialization of ideas.
In the competition, Muhammad Hanif and other team members presented innovations through literature studies on environmentally friendly packaging and the shelf life of vegetables. The paper was written with the title “Potential Development of Edible Film Based on Biopolymer Composites and Essential Oils in Maintaining the Quality of Vegetables.”
“Most of the damage occurs to horticultural products, so the way to prevent the damage is through packaging. Packaging is used to maintain quality, extend shelf life, maximize economic benefits, and minimize losses. However, most current packaging is made of plastic, which pollutes the environment,” explained Hanif.
The main reason for taking this topic is that about 50% of food loss in the world comes from vegetables or about 315 million tons per year. Hanif and his team members want to create a packaging system that can be applied at the beginning of the post-harvest process to reduce food loss.
Therefore, environmentally friendly packaging is needed and can be used to reduce damage and losses. The best way that we can apply is to use edible film when harvesting vegetables. The use of edible films can limit the exchange from the inside to the outside, limit moisture transfer, improve physical characteristics, and prevent the growth of germs on vegetables.
Hanif hopes that what is achieved today can be helpful and motivates and transmits enthusiasm to the next generation to win titles in other international competitions.
Kumara Tungga Dewa, S.S.
Editor: Ishaq Rahman, AMIPR
