Jakarta, INTI - A group of students and university researchers from Tangerang Regency, Banten, have introduced an AI-based nutrition safety system called Si Amanzi to support the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
The innovation was showcased at the Appropriate Technology Competition held by the Tangerang local government on Wednesday.
AI Innovation to Enhance Food Safety in MBG Program
Alwan Azriel, a member of the Technology Service Post research team in Mauk District, explained that the system was developed in response to rising cases of mass food poisoning linked to the MBG program.
“Our tool is designed to support government initiatives like MBG by improving food safety,” he said.
He added that the Si Amanzi system utilizes artificial intelligence technologies developed by several well-known developers in Indonesia.
The research process took approximately four months, involving scientific literature reviews, field observations, and interviews with MBG recipients and teachers.
How Si Amanzi Works and Its Implementation Potential
The system operates through a series of integrated inspection stages using a conveyor mechanism. The first step involves sterilizing meal containers (ompreng) using ultraviolet (UV) light.
After sterilization, the containers are filled with food, and the quality and nutritional content are automatically analyzed using AI-powered cameras capable of assessing food condition, calorie levels, and nutritional value.
“In addition, we equipped the system with odor and humidity sensors. The odor sensor detects substances like ammonia and methane, if these are present, the food is considered unfit for consumption,” he explained.
Once the inspection process is complete, the system generates a barcode sticker containing the results of the nutritional safety test, which is then attached to each meal container.
“The system is currently around 70 percent accurate, but it can significantly reduce the risk of food poisoning from unsafe meals,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tangerang Regional Secretary Soma Atmaja highlighted that the technology competition serves as a strategic platform for communities to develop innovations across various sectors.
“Innovations emerge from events like this. We’ve seen technologies in agriculture, renewable energy, and even efficient solutions for sanitation systems,” he said.
He expressed hope that such technologies could eventually be mass-produced and directly utilized by the public in daily life.
“The next step is scalability, whether we can produce these technologies on a large scale, which will require support from stakeholders such as major companies for funding,” he concluded.
Conclusion
The development of Si Amanzi highlights how young innovators can leverage AI to address real-world challenges, particularly in public health and nutrition programs. While still in its early stages, the system offers a promising solution to improve food safety and reduce risks in large-scale meal programs. With further development and support for mass production, this innovation has the potential to make a meaningful impact on community well-being and strengthen the role of technology in everyday life.
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