Environmental problems call for real solutions that begin not only with concern but also with innovation grounded in scientific knowledge and religious values. That spirit was reflected in the final round of the Ecotheology Competition (Waste and Environmental Management) at the Religion, Science, and Research Olympiad (OASE) III PTKIN 2026. Eight finalists from State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) across Indonesia presented product innovations in waste and environmental management on Friday, November 6, 2026, in the Theatrical Hall on the first floor of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FISHUM) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

The eight finalists were selected from 35 scientific papers submitted. In the initial stage, the panel of judges evaluated all entries online on writing quality, format compliance, and substance. The eight best papers then advanced to the final round, where judging focused more on product demonstrations and innovation presentations.

Dr. Eka Sulistiyowati, S.Si., M.A., the person in charge of the Ecotheology Competition, explained that the competition was designed to encourage innovations that can help solve a range of environmental problems, from solid waste and liquid waste to hazardous waste.

In her view, the finalists' work shows that an ecotheological approach can be turned into concrete solutions through science and technology. Some of the innovations even target environmental problems close to everyday life, such as treating ablution (wudu) water waste, batik waste, and food scraps.

The final round featured three judges from professional and academic backgrounds: Dr. Priyaji Agung Pambudi, Secretary General of the Indonesian Climate and Forestry Experts Network (APIK Indonesia Network); Septin of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta; and Ardian Pramudia Kurniawan of the Biology Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

The eight innovations presented reflect a variety of approaches to environmental management. UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang presented Miu-Connect, a collaborative platform integrated with a smart waste scale based on the Internet of Things (IoT). UIN Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi developed ECOPALM ROSTER, an innovation that turns palm kernel shell waste into eco-friendly roster (decorative ventilation block) material.

UIN Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, meanwhile, presented Smart Eco-Masjid as a living laboratory for ecotheology through a model for managing ablution water. UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon presented the Development of Berkasih Smart, an integrated system based on artificial intelligence (AI). UIN Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari Ponorogo presented ECO-RETOX, an innovation for reducing textile waste through a filtration system.

Two other innovations were MAZA TECH from UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, a grease-trapping technology with a dual-output concept integrated with dish soap production, and ECO-WUDHU GOVERNANCE from UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, a model for managing used ablution water based on the principles of fiqh al-bi'ah (environmental jurisprudence).

As host, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta also presented an innovation, Granobara, a granular organic fertilizer developed by three students: Udkhulul Jannah, Putri Andini, and Dwi Siska Cantika. The innovation uses rice and bone waste as raw materials to produce a fertilizer that supports sustainable agriculture while reducing the problem of food waste.

The development of Granobara is grounded in the Islamic principle of anti-israf, the prohibition against excess and wastefulness, and in the importance of maintaining the balance of nature. The idea grew out of food waste, which remains an environmental challenge in Indonesia. By turning leftover food into a useful product, the team aims to offer a circular economy approach that links waste management with the needs of the agricultural sector.

In their demonstration, the team explained that Granobara is made by processing rice and bone waste, enriched with organic material fermented using EM4, and shaped into granules with sodium alginate and calcium chloride as an encapsulation matrix. The process produces black granules with a sturdy, porous structure. In a usage demonstration, the team also showed that soil treated with Granobara retained more moisture than the control medium.

These advantages mean Granobara does more than offer an alternative use for waste; it also combines physical, mineral, and biological functions to support plant growth. The sturdier granule form is also designed to resist dissolving when it comes into contact with water, making it more practical for agricultural use.

Through the Ecotheology Competition at OASE III PTKIN 2026, UIN Sunan Kalijaga encourages PTKIN students to develop religious understanding that is combined with ecological concern and technological innovation. The work presented shows that Islamic values, such as the responsibility to protect nature and to avoid excess, can serve as a foundation for developing solutions to environmental problems.

The competition also reinforces the role of religious universities in building ecological awareness through education, research, and innovation that benefit society. Ecotheology does not remain a matter of discourse; it can be realized through real work to create a more sustainable environment. (humassk)