Collaborative Visit: Tomsk State University (TSU), Russia, to Agrifotech ITS for Palm Oil Waste Treatment

“One of the research themes outlined in Agrifotech’s roadmap is the conversion of waste into commercially viable products. The focus lies on repurposing oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFBs) among other materials into biofertilizers and planting media. This waste processing from the agroindustry has attracted the attention of TSU Russia, prompting their visit to Agrifotech at ITS DRPM on May 24, 2023.

Maya Shovitri, a key researcher involved in EFB studies, highlighted the team’s achievement in reducing biomass volume by 40-70% over 75 days, while maintaining optimal NPK content and a C/N ratio exceeding the SNI standard. Additionally, they successfully isolated various fungi and bacteria capable of producing carbohydrate-degrading enzymes from the EFB biomass.

Maya Shovitri emphasized the importance of continued development of this research material in addressing environmental concerns. Despite the abundance of solid biomass waste, its full potential remains underutilized. ‘Repurposing oil palm waste into advanced materials not only tackles waste pollution but also creates new value and benefits, resulting in innovative high-value products. Ultimately, this can significantly enhance overall agro-industrial productivity, steering us towards a circular economy.’

The meeting paved the way for potential bilateral collaboration, aiming to further the research on waste treatment with additional parameters tailored to the specific interests of both partners.”

A group photo including Dr. rer. nat. Maya Shovitri and her team, along with 4 guests from Russia.