An impressive international achievement was carved out by Oktavia Eka Ramadhani, a student in the Development Economics Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, Malikussaleh University (Unimal). She successfully secured 3rd Place in the Achievement Project in Business Incubation of Sustainable Development Startup, which was part of the International Summer School 2026 program in Kazakhstan in early June.
The innovative project presented by Oktavia and her multinational team was titled 'Terra Mushroom'. This business concept focuses on developing a sustainable agricultural sector by combining modern mushroom cultivation techniques, efficient organic waste management, and the development of an eco-tourism area oriented towards environmental education.
In the competition organized by Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), Terra Mushroom was judged superior because it managed to align economic profit with social impact and environmental preservation. This business model was designed as a tangible solution to future agricultural sector challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Oktavia explained that her team's success in this competition was inseparable from the integration of technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainability principles they applied. As an economics student, Oktavia played a crucial role in formulating business development strategies, analyzing market opportunities, and designing applicable community economic empowerment schemes.
This success is clear evidence that the agricultural sector has great potential when managed with a modern, innovative approach. The Terra Mushroom project now serves as a representation of Indonesian students at the global level in efforts to create a business model that is not only financially profitable, but also makes a real contribution to environmental sustainability and the welfare of the broader community.
