UNAIR NEWS — A Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) student team won Best Presentation at the 2025 Student Food Creativity Competition by showcasing an innovation that transforms small-business by-products into a pathway to food self-sufficiency. The competition was held at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) on Wednesday (Sep 3, 2025).
The team, composed of three UNAIR students—Mutiara Putih Gading (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences/FISIP), Bindari Zyabillea Ligayufa (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine/FKH), and Ema Salsabilla Arinda (FISIP)—impressed the judges with their creative and practical concept.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Gading introduced their project, an application called SisaJadi, short for Sisa Pangan Jadi Inovasi (“Food Waste Becomes Innovation”). “SisaJadi is an app that allows users to sell or repurpose their food waste independently,” she explained.
Identifying problem
Gading said the team was motivated by troubling data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), which shows that 41 percent of Indonesia’s waste is food scraps. “We also found that Indonesia is the largest food waste producer in Southeast Asia,” she added.
These findings prompted the team to design an innovation that not only addresses waste but also leverages the potential of Indonesia’s many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Their solution aims to bridge food waste management with the creation of usable products.
Features of SisaJadi App
The app is designed with three main goals: reducing food loss, empowering local MSMEs, and promoting national food self-sufficiency. To meet these goals, SisaJadi offers several features: Menu Page, Waste Scan, Waste Market, and Waste Creations.
The Menu Page allows users to track how much waste they have processed and its environmental benefits, including reductions in carbon emissions from MSME by-products.
The Waste Scan feature identifies the type of food waste scanned by users. “The waste can then be directed either to the Waste Market or Waste Creations,” Gading explained.
Waste sent to the Waste Market can be sold to partners, as the app facilitates the buying and selling of waste and waste-based products. This not only promotes sustainability but also supports local MSME economies.
Meanwhile, the Waste Creations feature provides customized guides and tutorial videos to help users turn their scanned waste into new products, allowing them to repurpose leftovers on their own.
Author: Rizma Elyza
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
