UGM’s Smart Agriculture team has emerged triumphant, seizing the coveted first place in the Business Plan Competition hosted by the UGM Student Executive Board (BEM KM).
The competition, aptly titled the EKRAF International Essay Competition, witnessed the Smart Agriculture maestros clinching victory among 35 competing teams.
The winning team, comprised of Fathuzaky Setyawan, Malyasandi Firdaus, and Mario Felix Silalahi, hailing from the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering and serving as researchers at the Smart Agriculture Research in the UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology, presented a visionary business idea centered around a revolutionary bio-floc technology model for contemporary fish farming.
Fathuzaky Setyawan delved into the essence of its groundbreaking concept, highlighting its core focus on utilizing colonies of microorganisms in water as a natural filtration system.
This ensures the maintenance of water quality and provides crucial support for the optimal growth of fish. Their brainchild, aptly named “Tilapia Labs,” was the game-changer that outshone the competition.
“The ‘Tilapia Labs’ business idea boasts production efficiency as a key advantage, bringing about positive repercussions for the sustainability of the surrounding aquatic ecosystem,” Setyawan elaborated.
The bio-floc method they advocate promises an eco-friendly approach by curbing water usage through minimal periodic water replacement in the fish farming system. Beyond conservation, this system creates an ideal environment for accelerated fish growth.
“In addition, it can reduce ammonia content and organic waste from aquaculture waste that can damage the aquatic ecosystem, such as water pollution, algae expansion, and the spread of fish diseases,” Setyawan added.
Mario Felix Silalahi emphasized the potential of Yogyakarta’s fish farming, mainly focusing on the flourishing demand for tilapia consumption. The upward trajectory in tilapia demand prompted their venture into tilapia farming, utilizing the bio-floc concept for its benefits.
Apart from delivering denser flesh and a fresher aroma, the tilapia produced through this aquaculture method is rich in probiotic content, adding intrinsic value to Tilapia Labs products for effective local market penetration.
“Innovative ideas like bio-floc technology pave the way for the development of environmentally friendly aquaculture models that can yield sustainable economic benefits for the local community,” Malyasandi Firdaus asserted.
Author: Ika
Photo: Smart Agriculture Team