UGM And BRIN Collaboration Take ADVANTAGE Of Nuclear Technology To Control Fruit Flyovers In Salak Pondoh

YOGYAKARTA - Gadjah Mada University (UGM) together with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have collaborated on the use of nuclear technology to control fruit flies, a major horticultural pest that often inhibits the export of Indonesian fruit.

Head of the Plant Science Masters Study Program of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Suputa, said that this collaboration will focus on increasing the competitiveness of local horticultural commodities, especially salak pondoh as an icon of Yogyakarta.

"Fun fly attacks are a serious obstacle in the export of Indonesian fruit," said Suputa in Yogyakarta, Antara, Sunday, August 24.

He gave an example, in 2016 salak exports to Australia were rejected and destroyed because fruit flies were found. Since then, Australia has no longer received salak from DIY.

According to Suputa, nuclear technology is able to kill eggs and fruit fly larvae in the fruit so that export products meet the standards of the destination country.

"We hope that our fruit products will be accepted by trading partner countries," he said.

He added that this collaboration is expected to increase the country's foreign exchange through exports while maintaining the sustainability of local fruit.

"This collaboration is a form of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary so that there is no sectoral ego. The main goal is mutual benefit, especially to improve the welfare of farmers," said Suputa.

This research step is also an application of a fitosanitari and Indispensive Experts (TSM) based on nuclear technology, which is beneficial for the safety of Indonesian food and horticultural competitiveness.

BRIN's representative, Murni Indarwatmi, said the opportunity to utilize nuclear technology in plant protection is very large, especially in the post-harvest stage.

"With irradiation, radiation can penetrate into the fruit and kill eggs and hidden fruit fly larvae," he said.

However, Murni admits that there are still challenges in public perceptions linking nuclear to a bomb or reactor crash.

Actually, this irradiation does not have any radioactive material attached to the product at all. The dose is small and safe, it actually ensures that the fruit exported is free from pests," said Murni.