A student team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participating in the Student Creativity Program for Entrepreneurship (PKM-K) has successfully created an innovation to transform poultry waste into a nutritious feed supplement.
Poultry manure poses significant challenges, as it often leads to air and water pollution and can be harmful to human health due to the release of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gases during decomposition. This issue has prompted students at UGM to take action.
The PKM-K UGM Fermaze team introduced Fermaze, an organic feed supplement for laying hens. The product is developed using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggots, which are capable of degrading poultry waste.
Renata Satriatama Ranukumbolo, a 2023 student from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), explained that the process not only reduces pollution but also enhances the nutritional value that can be reabsorbed by chickens.
“BSF maggots serve as a high-quality protein source, helping prevent nutritional deficiencies in laying hens,” said Ranukumbolo on Wednesday (Sep. 3).
He further explained that Fermaze is enriched with bone meal as an additional source of calcium, a crucial mineral for eggshell formation. With 94 percent of eggshells consisting of calcium, this nutrient is essential to prevent eggs from becoming thin, fragile, or deformed.
“Fermaze is not just an alternative feed supplement, but a tangible step toward building a sustainable farming ecosystem. Our goal is to convert waste into valuable resources, thereby reducing production costs, protecting the environment, and strengthening the competitiveness of small-scale farmers,” said the team leader.
Ranukumbolo emphasized that the team developed this innovation in response to the rapid growth of Indonesia’s laying hen industry. By mid-2025, national egg production had reached 6.52 million tons.
“The high demand for animal protein continues to attract young farmers and agribusiness investors to this sector. Unfortunately, behind this major opportunity lies the serious challenge of poultry waste management,” he added.
In addition to Renata Ranukumbolo, the PKM-K UGM Fermaze team includes Najwa Ramadhani (Faculty of Agricultural Technology, 2023), Dimas Landung Ghofaro (Faculty of Animal Science, 2023), Afifah Diaz Restu Mawarni (Faculty of Animal Science, 2023), and Armedina Radine (Vocational School, 2024). The team is supervised by Galuh Adi Insani, a lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science.
Reporter: UGM Faculty of Animal Science/Satria
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya