PORTALJABAR, BOGOR CITY - The Bogor Innovation Award (BIA) 2025 announced its winners on Friday (September 26, 2025) at the Grand Ballroom of GSC STP IPB. The Banana Peel Sugar (Gukupi) innovation created by students of SMPN 4 Bogor City won first place.

This invention, initiated by four students, is led by Muhamad Alvero, with members Gabriel, Chiko, and Kayla. They successfully created a low-calorie liquid sugar made from banana peels. The idea stemmed from a simple experiment Alvero conducted while casually researching the properties of banana peels.

"Initially, I was eating my mother's boiled banana. I finished the banana, leaving only the skin. I tested the banana peel and found it contained quite a bit of carbohydrates. From that, I thought that carbohydrates could produce sugar," said Alvero.

From there, he then invited his three friends to conduct further research since February 2025.

"The process is quite long. We sterilize the banana peel, then rinse it, boil it, and then squeeze it. We extract the juice, let it sit in a jar, then heat it again, test it again, and then the result is liquid sugar," he explained.

The results of this research have been packaged attractively and have undergone organoleptic and laboratory tests.

"The results show that this sugar is safe for consumption and it also turns out that this sugar is low in calories," he added.

The students' success is inseparable from the role of their teachers, parents, and their strong enthusiasm for learning. They also enjoy reading scientific journals and putting new ideas into practice through real-life experiments. Bogor Mayor Dedie A. Rachim also expressed his appreciation to the winners.

"Because while governments may come and go, creative people are the backbone and capital of the nation's economy. And Indonesia cannot afford to lose out. Therefore, with periodic mentoring, everyone can routinely be creative and take innovative steps, starting from school," said Dedie.

He hopes that activities such as BIA can produce the seeds of scientists, inventors, and innovators who can stand on their own two feet and contribute to building the nation.
"Therefore, based on comprehensive thinking and mindset, we are here to build a strong nation," he concluded.