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The cellulose nanocomposite as food packaging has been prepared from the isolated cellulose of corncobs waste. The cellulose in corncob powder was isolated through a standard isolation method with various acid and bases by the heating process. As many as 17.4% of cellulose was successfully isolated and characterized via FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and TEM. Furthermore, the isolated cellulose was partially dissolved in DMAC/ LiCl 8% and compressed at high temperature to produce the cellulose nanocomposite film. The isolated cellulose showed a similar functional group with the commercial cellulose, indicating the success of the isolation process. SEM analysis was conducted to several all-cellulose nanocomposites with various time of soaking. The best soaking time to perform was 60 min. showing a good result in morphological surface analysis. Moreover, the cellulose nanocomposite film exhibited as a good food packaging material to negate the microbes growth in food.

Gracilaria sp. is well known as one kind of species of red algae. The major component of polysaccharide in this alga is agar that mostly used for making thin film. In this study, the Gracilaria sp.-based thin film had been prepared using two plasticizers (glycerol and sorbitol, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt %), and chitosan (1, 2, and 3 wt %). The FT-IR analysis confirmed the interaction that happened among the component of the mixture of Gracilaria sp., plasticizers, and chitosan was based on hydrogen bonding due to the presence of -OH and -NH2 groups. The plasticizers and chitosan concentration have significant role to the mechanical properties of Gracilaria sp.-based thin film. The optimum concentration of plasticizers and chitosan based on mechanical testing result was found at 0.2 and 3.0 wt %, respectively. At those concentrations, the thin film that prepared with sorbitol showed the highest mechanical properties. Other characterizations, i.e. TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), and WVP (Water Vapor Permeability) also brought the same result. The antimicrobial properties of the as prepared thin film in the presence of chitosan on agar medium and as a packaging on selected bread showed the Gracilaria sp.-based thin films was able to inhibit the growth of microbes. This antimicrobial activity can be used to declare the potential of Gracilaria sp.-based thin film as a new active food packaging.

The area of agricultural land tends to decrease each year due to land conversion. In 2009 the area of land was reduced by 97 hectares. This is because the land is allocated to non-agricultural land. In urban areas, with all the busyness faced by people in urban areas they do not have time to farm. Moreover, not enough land is available or has no room to come into contact with agricultural cultivation. Not to mention that we often see dwellings that are quite dense and save land, how to foster hobbies and agricultural businesses, especially for housewives, teenagers or retirees? Currently various methods are carried out in line with technological developments. Verticulture is a technique of farming in a room / narrow land by utilizing a vertical plane as a place for farming which is carried out in stages. The purpose of verticulture is to make optimal use of narrow land. The stages of this implementation are the Socialization of Verticulture Cultivation Techniques at Ibnu Sina MTs, Assistance and the process of planting verticultural cultivation techniques, Evaluation and gift giving as awards to students and schools. The results achieved in this community service are products or goods produced in the form of verticulture, this socialization service is carried out in practice so that participants, students and teachers, can understand the techniques of plant cultivation with verticultural techniques as well as good planting and maintenance methods, Plant cultivation techniques with vertikultus techniques and ways of planting and good care have been understood by students in Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) Ibnu Sina, Pematangsiantar City and have been well implemented.

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