A group of students turns waste from durian into useful products for agriculture.

From "waste" to circular aspirations

Green Choice Group Leader Khuat Hong Truc Vy said the research idea came from the reality of a family member who has a durian garden. Although durian has high economic value, it is very difficult to preserve and easily damaged during transportation. In particular, the fruit peel accounts for more than 60% of the weight but is difficult to decompose, causing pollution and bad odor. Worried about the situation of "good harvest, low price", and being a mountain of discarded waste, "we want to turn all durian into a useful resource, not only bringing economic value but also spreading the model of green, sustainable agriculture", Truc Vy shared.

The Green Choice group officially started its research in 2023, with 5 main members, under the guidance of MSc. Tran Thanh, and advisor MSc. Huynh Hong Mai - lecturer at Nguyen Tat Thanh University. In that journey, modern technology became the key. The group applied freeze-drying technology (also known as cold drying or freeze-drying) to process durian segments, keeping almost intact the nutrients and flavor. Fine grinding technology to create durian powder for the food and beverage industry. At the same time, developing microbiological technology to produce DurioBio products, helping to decompose the hard and thick durian shell into "organic substrate" (decomposing raw materials to create a porous, nutrient-rich environment for plants). At the same time, the group also integrated IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to monitor the production process and applied QR code tracing to make product information transparent.

Truc Vy said that the biggest difficulty in processing is that the durian shell is thick, hard, and difficult to decompose in a short time. At first, the batches of microbial compost often took a long time, and the quality was uneven. With the direct guidance of the teachers, the group adjusted the mixing formula with oyster shell powder, controlled pH and humidity, and increased the density of beneficial microorganisms in the DurioBio product. Thanks to that, the decomposition time was shortened to 30-40 days, creating stable raw materials for the production of organic substrates.

Quality testing shows that dried durian and durian powder meet food safety standards at QUATEST 3. DurioBio products and organic substrates have been tested in practice, bringing clear results in soil improvement and increasing crop productivity. Many fairs and exhibitions of science and agriculture have recorded positive feedback from farmers and businesses.

Combining biotechnology and processing

According to Team Leader Truc Vy, the biggest difference of Green Choice is the 100% closed-loop model, which not only exploits fruit segments but also recycles seeds and peels into useful products - this is a combination of biotechnology, processing technology and digital transformation. In Vietnam, not many projects have applied this approach.

Green Choice aims to expand satellite production in key durian growing areas such as Vinh Long, Dak Lak , Dong Thap. Optimize DurioBio products for application to other fruits. Promote the export of dried durian and durian powder to the EU, Japan, and the US; at the same time, deploy technology transfer to cooperatives and businesses. In fact, Green Choice has opened a new path for a circular economy from durian. With the creativity of young people, the journey of "turning waste into resources" from durian not only contributes to reducing environmental pollution but also brings great economic opportunities, suggesting a green agricultural model for the future.

Some of the group's awards received: FID Champion 2024 (organized by Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology); Start Up UTH Runner-up 2024 (organized by Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport); National Startup Second Prize 2024 organized by VCCI and many other awards.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nhom-sinh-vien-bien-phe-pham-tu-trai-sau-rieng-thanh-san-pham-huu-ich-cho-nong-nghiep-20251102155146958.htm