COMMUNITY SERVICE: Biotechnology FMIPA UM consist of lecturers and students train empowerment and fFamily welfare women to make mushroom medium from bagasse.

The community service team from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) has long been dedicated to empowering rural communities through innovative and sustainable practices. The training session in Kebonduren Village, which focused on creating mushroom medium from bagasse, is a prime example of this commitment. Bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane processing, has been largely overlooked despite its potential. By teaching local women how to repurpose it into a valuable resource, the team not only addressed a waste management issue but also provided the community with a new source of income.

During the training, the participants learned about the nutritional benefits of mushrooms and the economic advantages of cultivating them. Mushrooms are rich in protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, making them a healthy addition to the local diet. The women were shown step-by-step how to prepare the bagasse as a growing medium, inoculate it with mushroom spores, and maintain the ideal conditions for growth. The hands-on approach ensured that each participant could confidently replicate the process at home.

In addition to the practical training, the session included discussions on the broader implications of their work. The team emphasized how this initiative aligns with global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By reducing waste, promoting sustainable agriculture, and fostering economic growth, the project supports the community in multiple ways. The women expressed their excitement about the potential to turn this new skill into a small business, which could significantly impact their families’ livelihoods.

Looking ahead, Ratna Juwita Ph.D and her team plan to continue supporting the women of Kebonduren Village. They aim to provide further guidance on business development, marketing, and scaling up production. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable and profitable enterprise that can serve as a model for other rural communities. With the skills and knowledge gained from the training, the women of Kebonduren Village are now better equipped to contribute to their local economy while also promoting environmental sustainability. The positive survey feedback has encouraged the team to expand similar training sessions to other villages in the region, ensuring that more communities can benefit from these innovative approaches.

The Community Service Team from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), represented by the Biotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, has gone beyond borders by conducting training abroad. This time, the training focused on making fruit tea from local Indonesian fruits as a ready-to-drink beverage at the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office (KDEI) in Taipei, Taiwan.

The event took place directly at KDEI Taipei last Sunday (21/7) and was attended by KDEI representatives Novrizal from the field of protection of Indonesian citizens and cultural-social information, as well as Muhammad Reza Dharmawan from KDEI administration and Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) who are part of the Community Learning Activity Center (PKBM) of the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) Taiwan.

The event began with a welcome speech by the principal of PKBM PPI Taiwan, Ir. Ananda Insan Firdausy, ST., MT., M.Sc. Ananda stated that PKBM PPI Taiwan is an institution engaged in non-formal education through package programs, allowing migrant workers to continue their education in Taiwan. “This training aligns with the programs at PKBM PPI Taiwan related to community empowerment, which involves providing training for PKBM PPI Taiwan students, consisting of migrant workers,” he explained. This activity supports SDGs 3, 7, 8, and 15.

Fruit tea training using local Indonesian fruits was chosen because of the abundance and variety of fruits available. However, their use has been limited to fresh consumption and some are dried for chips. During the harvest season, the quantity is abundant and the price is low. Therefore, the Community Service Team from Universitas Negeri Malang, led by Ratna Juwita, Ph.D., innovated by turning them into fruit tea, a ready-to-drink beverage rich in nutrients and vitamins, especially vitamins A and C. “We hope that this fruit tea-making training will provide new ideas for migrant workers in entrepreneurship,” she said.