A team of students from the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM), won two gold medals and three silver medals at the Southeast Asian Agricultural and Food Engineering Student Chapter–Annual Regional Convention (AE-ARC) 2024, held from May 10-16 in Perlis, Malaysia.
The competition, organized by the Malaysian Society of Agricultural and Food Engineers (MSAE), featured 65 Southeast Asian teams, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The categories included Novice Mechanic, Amazing Race, Digital Poster Making, Video Presentation of Technical Tour, Cultural Performance, Waste to Wealth Innovation, and Exhibition for Young Agricultural Engineers and Technologists.
UGM sent five teams with 15 students to compete in the AE-ARC 2024, themed “Digital Agriculture: Driving Innovations for Sustainable Agro Food Production.”
After the competition, the UGM team received the Gold Prize Exhibition for Young Agricultural Engineers and Technologists Awards for their innovations, “Maggot Box for Sustainable Food Waste Solution” and “Affordable & Eco-Friendly Fresh Chili (Capsicum Sp.) Control Atmosphere Storage For Small To Medium Scale.”
Silver medals were awarded for the following:
– Silver Prize Exhibition Awards for the “SIMPOCUR (Smart Integrated Modification Of Microalgae And Hydroponic Culture);”
– Silver Prize Exhibition for Young Agricultural Engineers and Technologists Awards for “Smart Packaging With Traceability System For Extending Shelf Life Of Agro Food Products;”
– Silver Prize Exhibition for Young Agricultural Engineers and Technologists Awards for “Modified Eco Enzyme Fermentor With Chopper And Automatic pH Monitoring Sensor To Optimize Quality And Production.”
Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, the UGM team leader and student advisor, mentioned that the team had been preparing well in advance through internal selection and intensive training to prepare materials and equipment for the competition.
“This year’s AE-ARC competition involved more on-the-spot and digital activities, unlike previous years where materials needed to be prepared well in advance,” Dr. Nugroho told reporters on Tuesday (May 21).
For him, students’ participation in this annual agricultural and food technology convention is a platform for sharing knowledge and creative ideas about agricultural and food technology for sustainable agricultural advancement and addressing food crises.
Dr. Nugroho expressed gratitude that the UGM team was able to adapt and maintain cohesion during the competition, enabling them to return with medals.
“This year, the team’s ability to adapt and maintain cohesion was crucial to their success,” he said.
The Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, hosted this year’s annual AE-ARC meeting and competition. One hundred ninety-five students from 65 teams from three countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand—attended.
Participants from Malaysia included Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Perda, Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Universiti Malaysia Kampus Bintulu, Universiti Teknologi Mara Arau, Universiti Teknologi Mara Jasin, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and Politeknik Kota Bharu.
Participants from Thailand included Suranaree University of Technology and Maejo University, while participants from Indonesia were Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Andalas, Universitas Brawijaya, Universitas Hasanuddin, and Universitas Mataram.
Author: Gusti Grehenson