Yogyakarta, 19 June 2026 — Students of the Food Technology Study Program carried out an industry visit to Pabrik Gula Madukismo in Yogyakarta on Friday, 19 June 2026. The activity aims to improve students’ understanding of the process of processing sugarcane into sugar as well as the application of quality control of raw materials in the sugar industry.
During the visit, the students received an explanation about the main raw material used, namely sugarcane. Sugarcane is a seasonal crop that is harvested once a year. After harvest, sugarcane from farmers is immediately sent to the factory to be processed further in order to maintain its quality and sugar content.
Before entering the production stage, sugarcane first underwent a quality inspection process. One of the parameters analyzed was the sugar content using a refractometer or brix meter. The brix value measurement was carried out to determine the sweetness level of sugarcane and to determine the quality of the raw material that would be used in the production process.
The students also learned about the importance of managing raw material storage time. Sugarcane that had been harvested could only be stored for a maximum of two days before being processed. Storage that is too long can cause sugarcane to lose its water content, become dry, and experience a decrease in sugar content, which can affect the quality of the resulting sugar.
Through this industry visit activity, it is hoped that students can understand the importance of raw material quality control, post-harvest handling, and the application of processing technology in the sugar industry. This activity also provides a real picture regarding the relationship between raw material quality and the quality of the final product produced.
