Muhammad Rafi Gunadi, a student from the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, and his team achieved remarkable success by winning the Gold Medal at the ICOBIOS X OBC 2024 competition. This prestigious event took place at Universitas Brawijaya from September 28 to 29, 2024, attracting participants from around the world.
Rafi Gunadi’s team earned this accolade through their innovative research titled “Scoby-Do Organic Media Engineering: Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast in Optimizing Bioplastic Production with Batch Fermentation”. The research focuses on developing bioplastics through synthetic biology by utilizing the symbiosis between bacteria and yeast to optimize bioplastic production efficiently via batch fermentation.
The ICOBIOS X OBC 2024 event carried the theme “Recent Advances in Bioinformatics, Synthetic Biology, and Nanobioscience for a Better Future”, aligned with the conference’s mission to explore the latest innovations in bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and nanobioscience. The event was attended by renowned researchers, academics, and professionals from various countries. Besides the competition, the event also featured seminars, panel discussions, and workshops aimed at fostering collaboration and expanding participants’ professional networks.
This achievement is not only a source of pride for Muhammad Rafi Gunadi and his team but also strengthens the reputation of UGM’s Faculty of Agriculture in producing competent and innovative graduates in the fields of agricultural science and technology.
This award also contributes to supporting several key points of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The research aligns with efforts to promote technological innovation and sustainable industrial infrastructure, particularly in environmentally friendly bioplastic production.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – By optimizing bioplastic production, this research offers a solution to reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics, which harm the environment, while promoting more sustainable production practices.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – The initiative in bioplastic development supports climate change mitigation by reducing plastic pollution and encouraging the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
With this achievement, it is hoped that more students will be inspired to participate in international research and competitions, contributing significantly to the advancement of science and a more sustainable future.
Author: Adhika Hafizh Prasada, S.P.
Admin of the Website for the Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM