A research team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has developed an innovative breakthrough of Potassium Humate, a novel soil fertility enhancer derived from coal.
Through an oxidation process applied to low-calorie coal, humate compounds are released and mixed until the coal’s organic content is increased. The oxidized product is extracted, enriched with potassium, and formed into high-concentration solid humate flakes, ready for top dressing.
This compound has proven effective in improving soil structure, stimulating root growth, and enhancing water and nutrient uptake.
To bring this innovation into broader use across society and industry, UGM, PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), and MIND ID officially launched a pilot project for Potassium Humate at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) on Thursday (Aug. 21).
The launch was marked by the ceremonial striking of a gong by UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, President Director of PTBA, Arsal Ismail, President Director of MIND ID, Maroef Sjamsoeddin, as well as the traditional breaking of a clay pot at the Potassium Humat plant site in Bimomartani, Sleman.
This collaboration aims to advance food sovereignty, as well as downstream processing of minerals and coal, and strengthen a sustainable circular economy.
Rector Emilia expressed her appreciation for the synergy between research and industry in this program.
“We are deeply delighted to witness the corporate openness toward ideas and innovations from UGM researchers. We hope that an innovation ecosystem based on collaboration and a sustainable vision can continue to be advanced together,” she said.
She added that, through this initiative, UGM affirms its position as a research university consistently driving energy and agricultural transformation in Indonesia through innovations that favor society, sustainability, and the nation’s sovereignty.
The development of Potassium Humate began with Professor Ferian Anggara, a faculty member at FT UGM, and his research team, who have long focused on humate compound research.
Through a cross-faculty research team, they created Gamahumat, a humate product proven to enhance fertilizer efficiency, improve soil quality, and promote more sustainable agricultural yields.
This success has been further enhanced by the downstream processing of coal into Potassium Humate, thereby adding value to local resources while strengthening national food resilience.
Several farmers at Bimomartani demonstration plots reported that the use of Potassium Humate has made the soil more fertile, resulting in more abundant harvests, while reducing their dependence on urea and NPK fertilizers.
President Director of PTBA, Arsal Ismail, emphasized that this innovation forms part of the industry’s commitment to lowering farmers’ production costs by reducing fertilizer usage and reliance on imports.
“This collaboration is carried out to support the government in food sovereignty, downstream processing, and reducing farmers’ costs to realize a great, independent, and sovereign nation,” he affirmed.
Support also came from the government: Jekvy Hendra, Director of Fertilizers and Pesticides at Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, described humic acid and its derivatives as a strategic innovation to address evolving national fertilizer needs.
“Humic acid is the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for to maintain and improve fertilizer quality, as well as an opportunity to replace subsidized fertilizers in the future. This work by our nation’s children must be quickly utilized by the community to become a leap in innovation,” he said.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Firsto Adi