Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Brawijaya (UB) have made their alma mater proud on the national stage at the peak of the 2024 Innovillage competition in Bandung (4/25/2025). Cahyo Ilham Firmansyah and four other friends won 2nd place in Innovillage, a social innovation competition held by Telkom University as part of an effort to strengthen students’ contribution to community development through innovative and sustainable solutions.
The Social Project carried out by Firman and his friends is entitled “EcoWorm: Optimization of Organic Waste Management Based on Circular Economy with Worm Farming to Increase Soil Fertility and Agricultural Productivity in Sumberbrantas Village, Batu City.”
This project started from a crucial problem related to organic waste management in rural areas. Firman initiated a solution by building a worm farming system integrated with a circular economy pattern.
Through this process, household organic waste is converted into high-quality organic fertilizer (vermicompost) which is used to increase the fertility of agricultural land for residents of Sumberbrantas Village. During the project implementation period, EcoWorm managed to process more than 300 kilograms of organic waste and produced around 150 kilograms of organic fertilizer that was used directly by farmers. In addition, this project also targets community empowerment by involving farmer groups and housewives through waste management training and worm cultivation techniques.
“The EcoWorm project is a concrete form of our contribution in supporting the SDGs, especially in the aspects of waste management, food security, and village community empowerment. We want to prove that innovation does not have to be complicated; the most important thing is its relevance and sustainability,” explained Firman
The 2024 Innovillage event was attended by 2,817 students, 434 accompanying lecturers, and 884 teams from 136 universities throughout Indonesia. From the total number of participants, a strict selection was carried out based on the proposal, feasibility of implementation, and social impact generated. Finally, only 165 social projects were entitled to receive funding from a total budget of IDR 2.8 billion, before finally competing in the final stage through online presentations (online pitching).
“We are grateful and proud of this achievement. All teams have shown high dedication in initiating solutions that are applicable, have a real impact, and are sustainable for the community. This is real proof that UB students are able to become pioneers of change,” said Dien, as Creative Manager of Capunglam.
Innovillage is also a social laboratory to test the effectiveness of the Independent Campus program and the collaborative spirit across sectors. With a multidisciplinary approach, the participants’ projects not only target technology development, but also prioritize humanistic aspects, local wisdom, and community participation.
In closing, Firman hopes that EcoWorm will not only stop as a competition project, but can be replicated in various other regions in Indonesia that have similar problems. He is also currently communicating with the regional environmental and agricultural services and environmental activist communities to expand the reach of this project.
“We want EcoWorm to become a movement. An initiative that can bridge science, technology, and community empowerment. We believe that big changes can start from the village,” said Firman optimistically.
The Innovillage Competition carries the main theme “Sustainable Innovation to Build the Country” and will last for six months from October 2024 to April 2025.
Innovillage is an annual program that is a forum for students from various universities in Indonesia to demonstrate their active role in solving social problems based on technology and innovation, as well as being a means of real implementation of the Independent Campus policy and the global goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (REV/UB PR/ Trans.Iir)
