Bagasse Abundance, Processed into Mushroom Medium to Support SDGs 3, 7, 8, and 15

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Biotechnology FMIPA UM consist of lecturers and students train empowerment and fFamily welfare women to make mushroom medium from bagasse.

The community service team from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), consisting of lecturers and students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Biotechnology Study Program, held a training session on making mushroom medium from bagasse in Kebonduren Village, Ponggok District, Blitar Regency. This event took place directly at the Kebonduren Village Office on Saturday (13/7) and was attended by the empowerment and family welfare women of Kebonduren Village. This activity supports SDGs 3, 7, 8, and 15.

Mrs. Sukarman, the head of empowerment and family welfare, stated that this training was highly anticipated as it provided the empowerment and family welfare women with an innovative idea for creating mushroom medium from the abundant and easily found bagasse in Kebonduren Village. So far, bagasse in Kebonduren Village has not been optimally utilized, with most of it being discarded and a small portion used as kitchen fuel. Utilizing bagasse provides benefits for land ecosystems, helping to keep the environment clean and affordable (supporting SDGs 7 and 15). Therefore, the community service team, led by Ratna Juwita Ph.D, innovated by making bagasse into mushroom medium. “These mushrooms are rich in protein and fiber, making them great for daily consumption, supporting SDGs 3,” she said.

The training on making mushroom medium from bagasse also provided new entrepreneurial ideas, opening up job opportunities and potentially boosting economic growth, especially in Kebonduren Village (supporting SDGs 8). The empowerment and family welfare women of Kebonduren Village, Ponggok District, Blitar Regency were very enthusiastic about the training and guidance, as seen from the numerous questions they asked. Each participant received a brief tutorial on how to make mushroom medium from bagasse. Ratna hopes that after the training, the empowerment and family welfare women can practice on their own at home and that one day it could become a small business product of Kebonduren Village. She also hopes that this training will enhance the skills of the Kebonduren Village empowerment and family welfare women. “Survey results from the participants showed positive feedback, as they felt they gained new skills and knowledge they hadn’t had before,” she concluded.