A team from UGM won a Silver Medal at the 2nd International Student Summit, organized through a collaboration of the Sentosa Foundation, Insan USIM (Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia), and the World Associations of Young Scientists (WAYS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 14th–15th 2026.
The Indonesian delegation team at the event were from UGM consisted of Nurul Makhfirah (Tourism Master Program, Graduate School), Mukhlis Ibrahim (Faculty of Agriculture), and Tirta Pandu Winata (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences/FISIPOL).
The event served as both a competitive and collaborative platform for students to test their innovative ideas in addressing global challenges, particularly in the field of sustainability. This prestigious scientific forum brought together students from six countries to present research-based innovations contributing to sustainable development.
The team participated in the Essay and Innovation Competition category, presenting a scientific work entitled: “SAFE-BOX (Sustainable Agro-Food Enhancement): A Technology Innovation of Heavy Metal Absorption and Pesticide Residue and Non-Electric Fruit Coolant Using Storage Systems as an Effort in Improving Food Sustainability in Indonesia).”
Through the SAFE-BOX innovation, the team successfully won a Silver Medal in the sustainable agricultural innovation category. This work focuses on developing an agricultural storage system capable of absorbing heavy metals and reducing pesticide residues, equipped with environmentally friendly, non-electric fruit cooling technology.
The SAFE-BOX innovation was designed as a solution to food safety and post-harvest resilience issues in Indonesia. By utilizing natural bio-adsorbent materials and a sustainable storage system, this technology is expected to improve the quality and safety of horticultural products while reducing environmental impacts caused by pesticide use and heavy metal exposure. The key advantage of this innovation lies in its simple, practical approach and its potential for implementation in various agricultural regions, particularly at the village level.
As a Tourism Studies student, Mutia emphasized that, “This innovation is relevant to the agricultural sector, and also has strategic relevance to the development of sustainable tourism villages and agro-tourism.” She added that implementing SAFE-BOX in agriculture-based tourism villages could enhance the quality of local products consumed and marketed to tourists, while strengthening the destination’s image as an area that prioritizes sustainability and food safety principles. The integration of agricultural innovation and tourism is expected to improve destination competitiveness while supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in terms of food security and responsible consumption and production.
Winning the Silver Medal at this international forum is not only an academic achievement but also reflects UGM students’ commitment to delivering innovative solutions with tangible impacts for society. Active participation in international scientific forums also expands cross-country collaboration networks and strengthens the position of Indonesian students in the global innovation landscape.
This achievement was expected to motivate other students to continue contributing through research and innovation that respond to community needs and future sustainable development challenges.
Author: Mutia Nurul Makhfirah
Editor: Arni Wistriatun