IPB University’s Palm Oil Innovations Enliven the Just Saw It Festival of UKMK in Ambarukmo Yogyakarta

Dr Siti Nikmatin and a team representing the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) IPB University took part in enlivening the Palm-Made UKMK Festival Promotion ‘Just Saw It UKMK’ at Plaza Ambarukmo, Yogyakarta. A series of talk shows, palm product exhibitions, competitions and music stages were organized by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) and attended by Small, Medium and Cooperative Units (UKMK) throughout Indonesia.

Together with business partner PT Material Data Space, Dr Siti Enjoyn brought research products that have been funded by BPDPKS, namely Helm Green Composite (GC) and fashion products made from empty palm fruit bunches (EFB) such as bags, shoes and palm woven fabrics as well other creative industries.

“The exhibition which was held for three days (28-30/7) received a very good response from the people of Yogyakarta. This is because they gain new knowledge about the various benefits and derivative products of palm oil that were not widely known before,” said Dr Siti Nikmatin.

She said, palm oil which is generally only known as cooking oil can actually be processed into various products such as cosmetics, soap and hand sanitizers; foods such as dodol, tea and chips; as well as the creative handicraft industry. All of these products can be seen and purchased at this exhibition.

For Dr Siti, exhibition activities are useful as a forum for product introduction and market expansion. GC helmets that have been sold commercially are now starting to penetrate the Yogyakarta market through this UKMK exhibition.

Team member, Rima Fitria Adiati, MT from the Department of Physics, stated that the UKMK Gebyar organized by BPDPKS became a campaign about palm oil so that it would become widely known. “In addition, this activity increases marketing opportunities for palm oil derivative products, especially research results from universities,” she added.

Apart from representatives from FMIPA, a team from the Surfactant and Bioenergy Research Center (SBRC) IPB University were also present at the UKMK Gebyar bringing their superior products, namely hand soap and hand sanitizer made from palm oil. Also attending this activity were IPB University students from the Department of Statistics FMIPA, Dhiya Ulayya Tsabitah and Febrian Adhitya Cahya Belardi as well as students from the Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology Aufa Hanun Zahiyah.

Information about palm oil was conveyed by the BPDPKS Partnership Director, the Governor of Yogyakarta, representatives of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) and the Yogyakarta Regional National Crafts Council (Deskranasda). The talk show was attended by students and UKMK practitioners about ‘Tips for Success in Entrepreneurship’, ‘UKMK Go Digital, Go Global’ and ‘Young People Who Work’. For children, there are also coloring and drawing contests as well as fairy tales about palms. (*/Rz) (IAAS/Hap)