Medan — The TANBIO-BAG team from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has successfully secured funding through the 2026 Student Creativity Program for Entrepreneurship (PKM-K). This achievement represents one of USU students’ successes in developing innovations based on the utilization of agricultural waste, creating useful products while promoting environmental sustainability.
TANBIO-BAG is a biodegradable polybag developed using biochar derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and rice husk ash. The innovation was developed as a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional polybags while utilizing agricultural waste that has not yet been optimally utilized.
Securing funding through the 2026 PKM-K makes the TANBIO-BAG Team one of the teams representing Universitas Sumatera Utara in the program. This achievement also recognizes the students’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in developing products with the potential to provide broader benefits to society and the environment.
The TANBIO-BAG Team is led by Helsa Natasya Br Sembiring and Hegita Veronika Br Sembiring from the 2023 cohort of the Agrotechnology Study Program, Annisa Anggun Ray from the 2023 cohort of the Agribusiness Study Program, Andri Wifali from the 2023 cohort of the Agrotechnology Study Program, and Putra Jernius Batee from the 2023 cohort of the Chemical Engineering Study Program. The team is supervised by Beatrix Sofranes Napitupulu, S.Agr., M.Agr., a faculty member of the Agrotechnology Study Program.
Implemented at the Faculty of Agriculture, USU
Various TANBIO-BAG PKM-K activities were carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, which served as the main location for the team’s product development and activities.
The activities were conducted in stages, beginning with the preparation and procurement of raw materials, followed by production, drying, quality control, and product packaging. Once the product was ready, the team proceeded with marketing and promotion through social media and direct outreach to prospective consumers. Each stage was carried out in a coordinated manner by all team members to ensure product quality was maintained and the activity targets were achieved.
This Student Creativity Program for Entrepreneurship activity supports government programs aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 15: Life on Land.
Turning Waste into Valuable Products
TANBIO-BAG Team Leader Helsa Natasya Br Sembiring stated that securing PKM-K funding was a meaningful experience and achievement for the team.
“Being selected to receive PKM-K funding is a very meaningful achievement for us. Through TANBIO-BAG, we want to demonstrate that agricultural waste such as EFB and rice husk ash can be processed into innovative, useful, and environmentally friendly products.”
She expressed hope that TANBIO-BAG would not stop at the PKM-K funding stage but could continue to be developed into a product that provides broader benefits.
“We hope TANBIO-BAG can continue to grow and benefit society while becoming a starting point for us to continue creating and achieving.”
The success of the TANBIO-BAG Team is also expected to inspire other students to develop creative ideas and make use of the potential available in their surrounding environment. Through innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, students are expected to develop solutions that not only have economic value but also generate positive impacts on society and the environment.
The TANBIO-BAG Team of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) hopes that this achievement will mark the beginning of a longer journey toward developing innovations in agriculture and environmental sustainability.