Fishery Startup made by Banoo Advances to Global Competition

Fishery technology startup Banoo is a finalist for the MIT Solve Sustainable Food Systems Challenge 2020. This startup created by students and alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has set aside 2,600 registrants from 135 countries and is the only representative from Indonesia.

The MIT Solve Sustainable Food Systems Challenge 2020 is a competition to find the best technology-based social startups in the world. Meanwhile, Banoo develops tools to help entrepreneurs in the fisheries sector.

One of them is the microbubble generator which functions to spray oxygen in the water. This tool is equipped with Internet of Thing (IoT) sensors, so it can turn on automatically. Based on Banoo’s internal research, IoT-based technology can boost fish growth by up to 42%. Because this tool increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.

Banoo CEO Azellia Alma Shafira admitted, his tool sprayed oxygen more evenly throughout the pool, including the bottom area. Meanwhile, the existing aerators can only reach the surface area.

“In fact, the most critical oxygen level is at the bottom of the pool because it is not exposed to sunlight,” said Azellia, yesterday (17/9). With this even spraying of oxygen, fish metabolism can increase, and their appetite increases.

As a result, the harvest period was shorter from four months to three months. Farmers can also reap more income, because of productivity increases. “Even up to 124% more than conventional cultivation methods,” she said.

This technology also uses power from solar panels. Therefore, Banoo’s energy consumption is claimed to be more efficient because it only uses 400 watts. “It can be used in remote areas where there is no electricity,” said Azellia.

Banoo Plans to Develop Applications this Year

This year, Banoo plans to develop an application. This platform will later feature an MBG remote controller to turn on and ensure the microbubble generator via cellphone.

Then there are real-time data monitoring features, and data-driven pond management for consultations about pond maintenance based on recorded data. Then, the news portal feature contains the latest price information about fisheries.

Apart from that, there is a community feature. “We are also developing MBG products for saltwater and brackish water fisheries,” said Azellia. Currently, Banoo is in talks to secure seed funding.

“We are open to working together in the form of investment, CSR programs, research, and community empowerment programs,” she said. Startup Banoo was developed by Azellia and his colleagues in 2018. They are Fajar Sidik Abdullah Kelana, Lakshita Aliva Zein, Muhammad Adlan Hawari, and Fakhrudin Hary Santoso.

Facing Challenges While Developing Banoo

Azellia admitted that there were several challenges in developing Banoo. “Mainly, how to approach fish farmers and educate them about the benefits of Banoo technology on pond productivity,” she said.

He and his colleagues must also share their time in developing Banoo, because this startup was built when they were still in college. In addition, many projects and expedition plans have been delayed due to the corona pandemic.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) noted that land cultivation fisheries business actors including fishponds continued to grow during the Covid-19 pandemic. The commodity harvest in this sector is projected at 450 thousand tons.

Aquaculture commodities include freshwater fish, marine non-shrimp, and shrimp. Freshwater fish harvest is predicted to be 341,494 tons, marine fish cultivation for non-shrimp 4,400 tons, and shrimp 104,941 tons. “That is the estimated harvest yield from April to June,” said Minister Edhy Prabowo.

Although the demand for fish products from the hotel, restaurant and cafe sector has fallen due to the pandemic, orders from household consumers have increased. “In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, fish consumption has grown by 3.1% and is higher than other proteins which is only 2.1%,” said Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki.