EduAsiaNews, Bangli — Universitas Udayana (Unud) is strengthening its commitment as an Impactful Campus (Kampus Berdampak) through research and innovation aimed at addressing real-world challenges faced by communities. One such initiative is the implementation of a fruit fly pest control technology based on natural attractants and traps in Belancan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli, on Saturday (Aug. 8, 2026).
The technology, developed by a research team from Unud’s Faculty of Agriculture, offers a more effective, economical, and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides. The initiative is part of Unud’s Institutional Strategic Research (Riset Strategis Institusi/RSI) program, funded by the university to ensure that research findings deliver direct benefits to communities.
Head of the research team, Prof. Dr. Ir. Dewa Ngurah Suprapta, M.Sc., explained that fruit flies are among the major pests damaging various types of fruit and pose a significant challenge for farmers, particularly those seeking to produce horticultural commodities that meet export market requirements.
To address the problem, the team developed a combination of the natural attractant “Definol” and the “Jebags” trap. Definol uses a formulation of clove and nutmeg oils that can attract fruit flies from distances of up to approximately 2.5 kilometers and subsequently immobilize them. The immobilized flies then fall into water contained in the Jebags trap. Both products have been registered for patent protection.
The technology can capture up to approximately 1,000 fruit flies per week in areas with high pest populations. Its implementation costs around Rp500,000 per hectare, significantly lower than the estimated Rp3 million per hectare required for conventional chemical insecticides.
The technology was implemented across approximately 15–18 hectares of citrus plantations in Belancan Village, as well as a similar area in Kerta Village, Payangan District, Gianyar, with the involvement of Unud students participating in the university’s Community Service Program (KKN). Student participation reflects the university’s Kampus Berdampak approach, which connects academic knowledge directly with community needs.
Prof. Dewa Suprapta added that fruit fly control would be more effective if implemented on a broader scale through a wide-area management approach, covering at least 200 hectares. The development of the technology therefore requires collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders to facilitate large-scale implementation across Bali.
Unud Rector Prof. Ir. I Ketut Sudarsana, S.T., Ph.D., emphasized that the university’s research and innovation must be rooted in real community needs and should not remain confined to laboratories or academic publications.
“We hope that the research and innovations we undertake are genuinely based on problems faced by the community, so that they do not stop in laboratories or publications, but truly create an impact and improve people’s welfare,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Bali Provincial Agriculture and Food Security Agency, Dr. I Wayan Sunada, S.P., M.Agb., welcomed the innovation, saying that it aligns with efforts to promote food safety and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The Bali Provincial Government also encouraged continued collaboration with Unud in developing solutions for other agricultural pests.
Through this innovation, Universitas Udayana demonstrates that the concept of an Impactful Campus is not merely about producing research, but about ensuring that knowledge, technology, and student engagement are translated into practical solutions that directly benefit communities and can be developed sustainably.
