The PESTAMI Team from Ahmad Dahlan University (UAD) has achieved a proud milestone by advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 National Business, Management, and Finance Student Competition (KBMK). This prestigious event organized by Kemendiktisaintek serves as a platform for students to showcase solution-oriented innovations focused on sustainable business growth and digital transformation.
Focusing on the field of Commercialization of Research and Appropriate Technology (KOMRISTEK), the team developed a circular economy concept by processing banana peel and stem waste into a noodle food product. This innovation, aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, stemmed from the students' deep observation of abundant banana processing waste that had not been optimally managed by local farmers or industries.
PESTAMI Team Leader, Arya Eka Putra, explained that the product had undergone a series of laboratory tests to ensure food safety and nutritional quality. Despite facing obstacles in the previous year's competition, the interdisciplinary team—combining Food Service Business and Industrial Engineering—conducted a thorough evaluation, ultimately breaking through to this year's semifinals.
Under the guidance of lecturer Retnosyari Septiyani, the team is currently preparing for the next selection stage. They realize that the biggest challenge right now is changing public perception so that waste-based products are accepted as hygienic and high-value items for consumption.
If they successfully pass this rigorous semifinal selection, the PESTAMI Team will advance to the Grand Final, which will be held offline at Jenderal Soedirman University (UNSOED). This success is not only proof of UAD students' academic capabilities but also a tangible manifestation of youth contribution to promoting environmental sustainability through responsible business practices.
