InfoSAWIT, SAMPIT – An unexpected encounter at a technology competition brought together two innovative generations from Central Kalimantan. Dr. Joni, a teacher at SMA Muhammadiyah Sampit, shared an intriguing moment when he met a student from SMP Hamparan 2. Both were presenting similar innovations: environmentally friendly biochar technology.
The difference lies in the raw materials used; SMA Muhammadiyah utilizes firewood mixed with grass or rice stalks from harvests, while the team from SMP Hamparan 2 capitalizes on empty palm oil fruit bunches—waste that often accumulates in plantations without significant utilization.
The research conducted by the students of SMP Hamparan 2 began in 2023. Not only aimed at classroom learning, they developed this biochar research to participate in a district-level technology competition in Sampit, East Kotawaringin.
The biochar production process at SMP Hamparan 2 employs an "open" burning system, after the empty palm oil fruit bunches are ground and molded. The result is not only a useful planting material that enriches the soil but also biochar that can be made into briquettes as an alternative fuel source.
“We see that the children are not only capable of creative thinking but also care about the environment. They strive to find solutions from the abundant waste around them,” said Dr. Joni, who was impressed by the approach of SMP Hamparan 2, to InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (June 17, 2025).
Even more interesting, this innovation is fully supported by SMP Hamparan 2, which is part of the Best Agro palm oil plantation group. This support serves as a crucial bridge between the education sector and industry, fostering the emergence of environmentally-based appropriate technology.
In addition to contributing to the reduction of palm oil waste, this effort serves as an educational tool about the importance of sustainable innovation from an early age. The once worthless empty fruit bunches are now transformed into valuable and beneficial products.
Through scientific approaches and cross-level educational collaboration, this small step represents a larger vision for the future of alternative energy and waste utilization in Indonesia. It sends a strong message that innovation can come from anywhere—even from the hands of middle school students in the heart of Kalimantan. (T2)
