UNU Jogja Trains Students to Map Feedstock for Pesantren-Based Biochar Project in Kulon Progo

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), in collaboration with PT Clinovate Carbon, is preparing a project to convert agricultural waste into biochar through a pesantren-based initiative in Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). As part of the project preparation, UNU Jogja students participated in training and a selection process for prospective surveyors to map feedstock availability and assess the readiness of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) to become project partners. 

Director of the Decarbonomics Center at UNU Jogja, Tri Susdinarjanti, said that Kulon Progo had been selected as the project development area. Five prospective sites have been identified for verification to assess their suitability before the project is implemented.

“The project requires initial verification to ensure that the five sites are suitable for implementation. This initial verification will begin with a survey at one site and requires student involvement,” she explained on Wednesday October 14. 

The survey will focus on three main aspects: feedstock availability and supply, the readiness of pesantren to participate as project partners, and the suitability of estimated processing costs in relation to local prices. The mapping process will also involve farmer groups to gather information on biomass potential and feedstock supply chains in the target area.

Student involvement in this mapping process is relevant to their field of study in UNU Jogja’s Agricultural Product Technology (THP) Study Program.

Head of the THP Study Program at UNU Jogja, Subekti Hartiningsih, said the students’ involvement forms part of project-based learning, which connects classroom theory with practical needs in the field.

“Through this activity, students gain experience in identifying biomass potential, tracing feedstock supply chains, and collecting and documenting data to assess the feasibility of the project,” she said.

Subekti added that the activity is also relevant to the Waste Management course in the THP Study Program. Students can apply their knowledge of waste processing and reuse while exploring the potential of agricultural waste as a raw material for value-added products.

Meanwhile, Alfons Tefa from PT Clinovate Carbon explained that the students would be divided into two groups: a technical team and a social team. The technical team will focus on processing agricultural waste at a biochar production facility planned to be established at a pesantren.

“The team is expected to understand the technical aspects while also supporting the waste processing activities at the project site,” he said.

The social team, meanwhile, will assess the readiness of pesantren to participate in the project, including their willingness to provide personnel to support its implementation.

To prepare students for fieldwork, the training covers the project context, how to introduce the project as a partnership opportunity, appropriate communication with stakeholders, and techniques for collecting verifiable and accountable data. Participants also practice using survey instruments.

At the end of the training, participants will undergo a selection process to determine four surveyors who will assist the project team in conducting field verification. The survey findings will serve as a basis for assessing the suitability of prospective sites and the readiness of pesantren to support the development of the agricultural waste-based biochar project.

Reporter: Latifah