SUPER-TEMPE: Chromosomal Detection Innovation Based on the femA Gene and Ecological Fermentation Engineering for Tempeh Superfood Safety Prototypes

Project Overview

This project focuses on enhancing the food safety of tempeh, a nutrient-dense national plant-based superfood. By developing a precise molecular detection system and integrating it with ecological fermentation engineering, the project aims to create physical prototypes ensuring hygienic tempeh production, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

For detailed information, please refer to the original proposal document: “Proposal-v4.pdf”.

• Principal Investigator: Nodali Ndraha, Ph.D.
• Duration: 3 Years (Starting 2026)
• Funding Agency: LPDP & National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) - RIIM Platform (Theme: Superfood Product Innovation and Alternative Foods through NutriFoodSync)
• Total Funding Amount: IDR 120,000,000 (Year 1)

Research Team

• Principal Investigator: Nodali Ndraha, Ph.D. (Research Center for Food Technology and Processing, BRIN)
• Members (BRIN):
  • Ajeng K. Pramono, Ph.D. (Research Center for Biomedical Sciences)
  • Dr. Koko Tampubolon (Research Center for Food Crops)
  • Sunarti Sinaga, Ph.D. (Research Center for Marine Aquaculture)
  • Dr. Sri Murniasih (Research Center for Food Technology and Processing)
  • Harry Supriadi, M.Eng. (Research Center for Food Technology and Processing)
• Partner Institution: Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas (Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada)

Project Summary

Tempeh is a widely recognized plant-based superfood. However, its production is largely dominated by MSMEs in Indonesia, making it highly susceptible to contamination by pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Current quality assurance relies on conventional culture methods that are slow and lack specificity, while process engineering to eliminate pathogens without inhibiting the main mold (Rhizopus sp.) remains a significant challenge.

To address this, the SUPER-TEMPE project is developing a rapid, quantitative hybrid Most Probable Number - Polymerase Chain Reaction (MPN-PCR) method targeting the highly specific femA chromosomal gene of S. aureus. The research follows a three-year roadmap:

1. Year 1: Focuses on the development and validation of the quantitative MPN-PCR hybrid method, yielding a Phase 1 Physical Prototype Test Kit (laboratory scale).
2. Year 2: The method will be implemented to map pathogen prevalence from field tempeh samples across various supply chains, resulting in an Optimized Physical Prototype Test Kit.
3. Year 3: Focuses on the final assembly of the ready-to-use MPN-PCR Test Kit (TRL 5), which will be validated for its effectiveness in eliminating pathogens through ecological fermentation engineering models (hurdle technology) at the MSME scale.

The ultimate goal is to deliver commercial physical prototypes—both test kits and intervention standard operating procedures (SOPs)—that can be directly utilized by food regulatory laboratories and industry quality control to accelerate quality assurance in tempeh production.