IPB Students Turn Spoiled Milk into Souvenirs
Along with the great amount of milk production, the variety of milk-based processed products are also increases. Usually, milk is only processed into various food and beverage products, as well as beauty products.
But there are still other products that can be created from milk, including from milk that does not meet the standards or sales qualifications. Milk that are spoiled or not passed the quality standard is referred as rejected milk. The importance of utilization of spoiled milk encouraged three IPB students to produce souvenirs.
Wa Ode Nuzulurrahmah Sulaiman and Raden Ajeng Faadhila Ramadhanti Mustikadewi (both are students of School of Business), and Ghina Sa'arah Nibras (Student of Department of Economics) are students who encouraged in utilizing spoiled milk. They were under the guidance of Dr. Siti Jahroh.
"Rejected milk usually will be thrown away or taken back by its farmer and used as feed. In fact, rejected milk still has protein content (casein) that can be processed into a product with high selling price and competitiveness. Then, came the idea to turn the spoiled milk into an interesting souvenir," said Wa Ode.
The beginning of this idea came from a video that shows a simple chemical experiment on Youtube. They agglomerated milk casein and then made into stone or round shape.
"Then I wondered what would happen if the same technique is used for a more decent output. After we had a discussion, the idea was chosen to make it as a unique souvenir of Bogor, because from what we know, in Bogor there is still no unique souvenir that is identical with Bogor itself," explained Wa Ode, Leader of PKM-K (Student Creativity Program-Entrepreneurship).
Wa Ode and her colleagues took the initiative to create an innovative new creations in the form of souvenirs based on rejected milk. They form souvenirs with various designs that show the characteristics and icons that characterize Bogor. This product was named Seuri. Seuri itself in Sundanese means 'laugh' and is expected to make the consumers happy and satisfied after buying this product. Seuri is a unique souvenir of Bogor which currently consists of two types of key chains and refrigerator patches, as well as plaques that are currently in preparation stage production.
"Not only that, the works we made will be designed with unique shapes and characters to symbolize Bogor's unique identity. Like the form of deer, angkot, carrion flower, Kujang Monument and typical places in Bogor. The character is designed with color choices that are cute and adorable and can follow the tastes and trends of consumers. For the future we are also working on packaging that also contains facts about these characters as information about the characteristics of Bogor. Orders can be done through instagram @seuri.bogor," said Wa Ode.
Starting from the proposal idea, Wa Ode and his colleagues get fund from Kemenristekdikti to be able to realize Seuri business.
"When we knew that our team is funded, it feels like a mixture, between happy, grateful, and confused how to start with a large scale, but Alhamdulillah now we and the team have found the right partners to help us realize Seuri," Wa Ode.
Currently, Seuri has started to producing. The response from the market is good enough that the product is deliberately made in small quantities for market test. (FM)
