BIOTY : Innovation of Used Litter Husk Alternative for Environmentally Friendly Soil Fertilizer

Impact Climate change causes drastic changes in environmental dynamics. One of the changes that is quite difficult for humans is the decrease in productivity of rice crops as a food source.

According to a Lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB), Muchamad Muchlas, S. Pt., M.Pt., the solution to this problem is biochar soil amendment processed from biomass waste. Litter used for broiler chicken farms is a potential biomass waste that has not been widely utilized. Even though the supply is abundant, so far it has only been left to waste which can cause pollution to the environment and health. This is because polluted NH3 gas emissions can spread disease through used litter media that has been mixed with chicken excreta.

Starting from this concern, Muchlas guided UB students to make BIOTY products. Namely the biochar business innovation made from used litter husks as an increase in the productivity of rice plants. The team consisted of Razzaqi Hatmawira (Fapet), Moh. Amirur Rosyidin (Fapet), Ananda Mutiara Rejeki (FPIK), Syafiq Sanjaya (FT), and Firjatullah Farnas Al-Falasany (Fapet).

“Biochar soil amendment Which able to improve soil quality holistically, prevent nitrogen leaching through various mechanisms, as well as preventing biotic and abiotic stresses so that Thus supporting the productivity of plants grown on mixed soil biochar” explained Razzaqi, as the team leader

ProductBIOTS innovate used litter husks into biochar which can be an alternative to soil fertilizer but more environmentally friendly than conventional fertilizers.Business idea biochar This has future projection plans such as the procurement of a system pyrolysis reactor auger. 

“Pyrolysis is a process of burning materials at high temperatures, with the presence of limited oxygen when applied using a system auger will have a more even burning process with more time and energy efficiency.” said Syafiq from the Faculty of Engineering

BIOTY did it won third place in the Youth Agripreneur Camp Batch 2 business competition organized by kalekaindonesia, 18 June 2023 to 30 August 2023. Tim succeeded in bringing his innovation to the next stage final pitching in front of investors, competing with 9 other teams in the pre-production category from all over Indonesia.

Besides that, in the next few months the team will receive grants and technical assistance from kalekaindonesia to start a business idea. Become a prospective agribusiness startup that can be developed to contribute to the Indonesian agrocomplex sector. (tim/dta)