TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A team of three Indonesian students from Gadjah Mada University received first prize of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) World of Food Innovation Challenge held by the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The team introduced its MINO Microbubble Generator technology, which can increases the amount of oxygen in water and as a result, enlarges the size of tilapia fish by 40 percent. The enlarged fishes means that they can have higher survival rate and help to increase the output of fish farmers' harvest.
"We believe this system will not only increase the welfare of fish farmers, but will also create job opportunities in other sectors, as well as improve food security locally, internationally, and regionally," said Untari Febrian Ramadhani, one of the members of the team.
All members of the MINO Team will take part in a study trip planned to be held on March 2017 to Austin, Texas, one of the main technology hubs in the United States.
"The United States is committed to partnering with ASEAN to provide young people with opportunities to contribute to science, technology, and innovation endeavours. We know that young people have the great potential to develop innovative technology solutions to some of the region's most complex challenges around food security. That's why the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the YSEALI World of Food Innovation Challenge in February 2016 as part of the US government's initiative for engaging youth in Southeast Asia,” said US Charge d'Affaires for Indonesia Brian McFeeters.
The Innovation Challenge, implemented by the US Agency for International Development in partnership with technology giants Cisco and Intel, invited youth from across ASEAN member states to propose technology-based solutions to address some of the region’s most daunting challenges in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries. More than 200 applications were received from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
MAHINDA ARKYASA
