Bogor, September 28, 2025 — A team of undergraduate students from the Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (TPHP), Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again achieved national recognition through their outstanding innovation. The team, consisting of Dinda Afrilia, Salma Alvina, and Salsabila Deswita, proudly secured Second Place in the Business Plan Agridation 2025 competition held at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) under the theme “Agricultural Growth: From Nature to Nurture.”
In the competition, the UGM TPHP team presented an innovative product titled “B-Roll: Utilization of Banana Stem and Blondo Waste in Eggroll Snacks.” This creation emerged as an innovative solution to address the issue of organic waste from Indonesia’s agricultural and plantation sectors.
According to the team, the idea behind B-Roll was inspired by the country’s high production of bananas and coconuts. Unfortunately, around 60% of banana production results in low-value banana stems, while blondo, a by-product from the production of virgin coconut oil (VCO), is often discarded without further processing. If left untreated, these organic by-products can cause serious environmental problems such as methane gas emissions, soil and water pollution, and sanitation issues.
Through B-Roll, the UGM team introduced an eggroll snack made with banana stem flour and blondo, resulting in a savory flavor, crunchy texture, and improved nutritional value. Beyond its high added value, the product also embodies a circular economy concept by transforming agricultural waste into a marketable food ingredient.
Looking ahead, the students plan to continue further research on optimizing the use of banana stems and blondo, aiming to develop this innovation not only as a waste-reduction effort but also as a potential sustainable functional food product.
Written by: Okta I. Latifa
