Unhas Vocational Students Win 1st Place at National Agricultural Innovation Competition in Gowa
Widya Amalia, Syahri Ramadani, and Nur Rahma Yasin, winners of the 7th Anniversary National Agricultural Innovation Competition of Polbangtan Gowa. Photo: Personal Documentation
Makassar, April 27, 2025 — A team of students from the Faculty of Vocational Studies at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has achieved a remarkable milestone at the national level, claiming 1st Place at the National Innovation Competition held in celebration of the 7th Anniversary of the Agricultural Development Polytechnic (Polbangtan) Gowa.
The team — consisting of Widya Amalia (Class of 2022), Syahri Ramadani, and Nur Rahma Yasin (Class of 2023) — presented their innovation: the BioTray Semai Bernutrisi Biodegradable (Nutritious Biodegradable Seedling Tray), an eco-friendly seedling medium made from agricultural waste. They were mentored by Irwan, S.TP., M.T.P., a lecturer from the Food Crop Production Technology Study Program.
The competition ran online from July 9 to July 26, 2025, drawing hundreds of participants from across Indonesia. After rounds of proposal screening and both online and in-person presentations, only 10 finalists advanced to compete for the top prize. The Unhas team ultimately outperformed finalists from Polbangtan institutions in Malang, Medan, Yogyakarta Magelang (Yoma), Bogor, and Gowa itself. According to team leader Widya Amalia, the concept grew out of field observations identifying two major agricultural problems: plastic waste from polybags and seedling trays that are difficult to decompose, and underutilized organic waste such as corn husks and rice husks. "Farmers often complain that plastic trays break easily and damage roots during transplanting. Meanwhile, corn husks and burnt rice husks are abundantly available but simply discarded. We tried to turn these two problems into one solution," said Widya.
The BioTray is made from corn husks fermented with local microorganisms (MOL), burnt rice husks, and xanthan gum as a natural binding agent. The tray is fully biodegradable in soil, adds nutrients to the ground, and can be planted directly with the seedling — eliminating the need to remove it and reducing transplant stress on the plant. Widya believes the innovation holds significant promise for sustainable agriculture. The raw materials are readily available, production costs are low, and it has potential as a green business opportunity. "With proper molds and drying equipment, the quality could be more consistent and ready for the wider market," she said. The team's supervisor also played a crucial role — lecturer Irwan suggested replacing tapioca starch with xanthan gum to make the tray sturdier. "His guidance was incredibly helpful in getting us through the challenges of manual production, especially sun-drying that depends on the weather," Widya noted.
Remarkably, the BioTray idea originated as a Entrepreneurship course assignment. Seeing real problems in the field, Widya invited two classmates who shared a passion for sustainable agriculture to bring the concept to life. "It started out as just a class assignment — we never imagined it would go this far," she said. Widya closed with an encouraging message to fellow students: "Start with the problems around you, and look for simple yet impactful solutions. The process is exhausting, but the experience and benefits you gain are far more valuable."
This achievement stands as proof that creativity, teamwork, and mentorship can produce real innovation — contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for Indonesian agriculture.