Eco-Enzyme Production for Circular Waste Valorization among Forest-Adjacent Farming Households in East Java

Medea Rahmadhani Utomo; Yayuk Yuliati; Riyanti Isaskar; Imaniar Ilmi Pariasa

doi:10.28932/ice.v7i3.15526

Authors

Medea Rahmadhani Utomo Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
Yayuk Yuliati Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
Riyanti Isaskar Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
Imaniar Ilmi Pariasa Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28932/ice.v7i3.15526

Keywords:

circular economy, eco-enzyme, horticultural waste, liquid organic fertilizer

Abstract

Organic waste from household food preparation and horticultural sorting remains underutilized in many rural farming communities. This community engagement article reports an eco-enzyme intervention conducted with 38 informants from forest-adjacent farming households in Batu City, East Java. The activity aimed to strengthen community capacity in organic-waste separation, fermentation-based waste valorization, and preliminary use of eco-enzyme as liquid organic fertilizer. A mixed-methods community intervention design was used, combining participatory coordination, technical training, hands-on practice, pre-test and post-test assessment, field observation, and reflective evaluation. Participants were predominantly women and were observed as active, proactive, progressive, and cooperative during the training process. The pre-test to post-test comparison showed a 22% increase in knowledge and procedural understanding. The activity produced 42 liters of eco-enzyme and introduced its pilot application to plants, where treated plants showed 17% faster growth in preliminary observation. These findings indicate that eco-enzyme training can serve as a practical entry point for rural circular economy learning, although stronger agronomic and economic claims require controlled testing.

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