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As a form of creativity and concern for waste management, students of the Food Industry Technology Study Program at Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije) succeeded in making innovative food products from materials that were originally considered as waste. Nabila Rahmadani and her group have managed to turn edamame rejects from PT Mitra Tani 27 Jember into food products that are not only delicious, but also of high selling value. This innovative product, called Bolu Bite Edamame, is now a clear proof that edamame waste can be utilized into something useful and attractive.
In her explanation, Nabila Rahmadani explained that the idea to process edamame rejects came about when they realized that PT Mitra Tani 27 produced a large amount of edamame that did not meet the standards for sale. The edamame waste had previously been thrown away, despite its nutrient-rich content.
“We saw great potential in these edamame rejects, which had been wasted. So, we took the initiative to turn it into something valuable and useful. We chose to make cakes as a product that is attractive and easily accepted by many people,” said Nabila.
The edamame rejects used in making Bolu Bite Edamame are first processed into edamame paste. The edamame paste is then mixed with other cake ingredients to create the perfect texture and flavor. This processing takes advantage of all the potential in edamame, including its high vegetable protein and fiber content. The end result is Bolu Bite Edamame, a delicious cake with an attractive appearance and higher nutritional value than regular cakes.
“We maintain the quality and flavor of the products we produce. We pack Bolu Bite Edamame in a beautiful and attractive way to attract consumers while introducing the benefits of edamame as a nutrient-rich food ingredient. With attractive packaging, this product not only offers good taste but also gives the impression that healthy and nutritious food can be packaged in a modern and contemporary form,” continued Nabila.
This project is also part of the Project Based Learning (PBL) learning method, which is applied at Polije to give students direct experience in solving real problems in the industry. Nabila said that this was the first time she and her group had participated in this learning method. PBL allows students to work on a real project that is directly related to the industrial world, and develop solutions to existing problems.
“This PBL method is very exciting and provides an extraordinary experience. We can directly learn how to utilize industrial waste into products that have selling value. We also learned to work together in groups, develop plans, and solve problems that arise in the process of making products,” said Nabila enthusiastically.
According to Nabila, this experience also opened their minds to the importance of innovation in waste management, which has often been ignored by many industries. In addition, PBL provides an opportunity to better understand the practical aspects of the food industry, such as raw material processing, quality control, and product marketing.
Nabila hopes that the innovation from her group can continue to grow and get more attention from various parties, including the food industry and consumers. She also hopes that this product can be an example for other students to continue to innovate in processing unused materials into high-value products.
“My hope is that this Bolu Bite Edamame product will not stop here. We want to continue developing this product so that it can be more useful and widely accepted in the community. In addition, we hope this innovation can inspire more people, especially students, to not only rely on theory, but also dare to innovate and make changes in the industrial world,” concluded Nabila. (rda)