A student team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully won the Silver Medal (2nd Place) the International Essay Competition, part of the 2nd International Student Summit 2026 (2nd ISS 2026), held in Malaysia on February 14–15, 2026.
This achievement highlights the academic capacity of UGM students in producing innovative ideas relevant to global issues. The team consisted of Mukhlis Ibrahim (Team Leader) from the Faculty of Agriculture, Tirta P. Winata (Member) from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and Mutia N. Makhfirah (Member) from the Graduate School.
In the competition, the UGM team presented the idea SAFE-BOX (Sustainable Agro-Food Enhancement), an eco-friendly food storage innovation that utilizes a non-electric cooling system for agricultural products, particularly fruits and vegetables. The concept was designed to address post-harvest challenges often faced by local farmers while improving the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian food products.
The SAFE-BOX approach emphasizes interdisciplinary integration, encompassing technological, policy, and governance aspects. As a result, the proposed solution is not only technically sound but also comprehensive and applicable within broader socio-economic contexts. “Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to creating comprehensive solutions,” said Mukhlis.
The SAFE-BOX innovation contributes significantly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Beny Nabila Happy Fauziah
Editor: Tantriani
Documentation: Mukhlis Ibrahim