Firman Jaya, S.Pt., MP., successfully defended his Doctoral thesis with a research focus on powdered honey.

Firman Jaya, S.Pt., MP., a faculty member of the Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Brawijaya (UB), has completed his dissertation defense and earned his Doctoral degree from the Graduate School of the Faculty of Animal Science at UB. In his research, which emphasizes natural sweetener innovations, Firman concentrated on the production of powdered honey and its application in the food industry, particularly in powdered yogurt products, which are gaining popularity among consumers.

The study encompassed various aspects of producing powdered honey. The research commenced with the preliminary phase of sourcing raw materials, where rubber tree honey emerged as the primary candidate based on physicochemical tests and its antioxidant properties.

Subsequently, in pursuit of identifying the optimal formula, Firman and his team explored various filler materials. The outcomes revealed that maltodextrin DE 12 at a 40% concentration stood out as the preferred filler. Moreover, to prevent agglomeration and prolong shelf life, silicon dioxide was selected as the anti-caking agent, achieving a shelf life of 337 days under ideal conditions and 1.5 months under more challenging conditions.

In the concluding phase of the study, it was determined that the addition of 3.2% powdered honey yielded a powdered yogurt product of the desired quality. This opens significant opportunities for the food industry to develop powdered yogurt products that are not only flavorful but also offer health benefits through natural sweeteners.

The dissertation, which spanned over two hours in a hybrid format, was chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science, Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Halim Natsir, S.Pt., MP., IPM., ASEAN Eng. With examiners and promoters from various educational institutions, the Faculty of Animal Science has further expanded its roster of faculty members who have achieved doctoral degrees. (MT)