Bringing Organic Compost Innovation to Malang, the 'Bestari Saintek' Team from Polman Negeri Babel Appears at the Living Lab Summit 2026
The Bestari Saintek team from the Bangka Belitung State Polytechnic (Polman Negeri Babel) presents their innovation, ANW Organic Compost, at the 2026 Living Lab Summit in Malang.
The Science and Technology (Saintek) research team from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic participated in a dissemination session as part of the Living Lab Summit 2026—an event themed "Charting the Future: A New Direction for Science and Technology Driven by Social Impact." The session was held during the National Seminar and Exhibition on Living Labs at the Panthita Majapahit Auditorium, Brawijaya University, Malang, on Friday (October 30, 2026).
The research team is led by Mahmudin, S.P., M.Si., and includes team members Hendrik Ali, S.T., M.M., Nur Khasanah, S.P., M.Si., Irwan, S.ST., M.Sc., Ph.D., Deni Pratama, S.P., M.Si., Dr. Ilham Ary Wahyudie, S.S.T., M.T., and Andyka, S.E.
In an interview on Monday (November 1, 2026), Mahmudin, M.Si., explained that his participation in the seminar was intended to delve into a program under the Directorate for the Dissemination and Utilization of Science and Technology (Dit. Minat Saintek) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), with funding provided by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
He noted that, following a rigorous multi-stage process, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between university research and real-world application, ensuring that academic developments can be implemented to create a direct impact on society.
" The goal is to translate university research and innovation into solutions for various societal challenges, fostering collaboration among academics, industry, the government, startups, and community groups," he stated.
He further explained that the team showcased a product developed through the 'ANW Organic Compost' program—a collaboration with an organic compost startup based in Kimak Village, Bangka Regency. This product embodies research outcomes by integrating organic waste processing technology with innovative organic fertilizer production, ultimately supporting the reclamation of former tin-mined land.
In addition to showcasing the product, the team presented the progress of the ongoing 'Bestari Saintek' program. Their presentation covered the development of an organic compost production system, the implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring technology for the fermentation process, and the testing of the organic compost's effectiveness on corn and sorghum crops grown on former tin-mined land.
" The research phases focused on evaluating the potential of organic compost to improve soil quality and support plant growth on reclaimed land," he noted.
The participation of the Bestari Saintek Polman Babel team in the Living Lab Summit 2026 serves to showcase their innovations while broadening the dissemination of knowledge and technology among academics, researchers, practitioners, industry representatives, and other stakeholders. It also opens up opportunities for utilizing reclaimed land for productive agricultural activities, thereby strengthening food security," he acknowledged.
