Purwokerto, 28 March 2026 – Students from the Agricultural Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada achieved a remarkable accomplishment at the national level. The team secured 3rd place in the Business Proposal Competition at Agricultural Food Competition Season 17 organized by the Food Technology Student Association of Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto.
The team, consisting of Alexander Dimas Aryasena Nugraha, Emmanuela Rosthere Arsita Furi, and Aurelliza Denna Afsari, presented an innovative proposal titled “RIVERA (Rice Husk–Bagasse–Derived Hydrogel Fertilizer): An Agricultural Waste-Based Hydrogel Fertilizer Innovation for Optimizing Rice Growth and Sustainable Water Efficiency.” The team was supervised by Dr. Joko Nugroho Wahyu Karyadi, S.T.P., M.Eng.
During the competition, the team passed two initial selection stages, namely the Business Model Canvas (BMC) selection and the online business proposal screening. Due to the strength of their idea, technical feasibility, and implementation potential, the team advanced to the final round held on 28 March 2026, where they presented their proposal directly before the panel of judges.
From an engineering perspective, RIVERA is an innovative hydrogel fertilizer made from rice husk and bagasse waste, designed to absorb and retain water while releasing nutrients gradually (controlled release). This solution improves water-use efficiency, maintains rice productivity during drought conditions, and transforms agricultural waste into valuable products through a circular economy approach.
The team’s achievement demonstrates that students from the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering possess strong capabilities not only in conceptual thinking but also in designing practical and scalable engineering-based solutions. This multidisciplinary approach—integrating engineering, agriculture, and entrepreneurship—proves effective in generating innovations relevant to industry needs.
Furthermore, the innovation aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through increased agricultural productivity, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through technological innovation, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through agricultural waste utilization, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through improved water efficiency and climate adaptation.
This achievement is expected to inspire other students to continue developing engineering-based innovations that are not only academically excellent but also provide tangible impacts on the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
