In an ambitious endeavour to reshape environmental sustainability discourse, a group of five visionary students from Albukhary International University (AIU) embarked on a pioneering initiative under the acronym Enalife, an amalgamation of 'EcoNatura-Life.' The founder of this enterprise, Amir Qusyairi (Malaysia), was joined by Co-Founder Muhammad Taqiuddin (Malaysia), as well as a cohesive team consisting of Maznah (Malaysia), Norsalina Sakeyrin (Cambodia), and Nurjuridah (Malaysia).
ENALIFE JOURNEY
NURTURING NATURE ENHANCING LIFE
These individuals are affiliated with the AIU 3ZERO initiative and collaborated to establish Enalife, a club with the overarching goal of promoting environmental sustainability through innovative and impactful means.
Their journey began with a profound recognition of the world’s urgent environmental challenges. With unwavering determination, they identified and prioritised three critical issues: Firstly, they recognised the exacerbated issue of climate change, further aggravated by excessive nitrogen emissions from chemical fertilisers.
Secondly, they noted the growing global concern over food security, exemplified by India's decision to halt food exports. Lastly, they highlighted the underappreciated yet significant contribution of chemical products, particularly fertilisers, to climate change, posing long-term risks to human health and the environment.
Enalife’s initiatives were aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically targeting SDG2 (zero hunger) through sustainable food sources, SDG3 (good health and well-being) through organic products, and SDG13 (climate change) through sustainable agricultural practices.
Their mission was to address the interconnected environmental challenges of climate change, food security, and human health through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach that prioritises sustainability and the well-being of both the environment and human populations.
Enalife's groundbreaking innovations resulted from months of tireless research and development efforts. This innovation led to diverse organic products, including effective microorganisms as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, soluble calcium from eggshells, and live products such as maggots from black soldier flies. However, their journey was not without its hurdles.
Challenges arose during the production of Effective Microorganisms (EM), where a fermentation period exceeding three months is necessary to achieve optimum efficacy for organic fertilizer.
One of the key challenges they also faced was insufficient dedicated space for the fermentation process, causing interruptions in their operations. To address this, Enalife collaborated with SK Alor Setar, establishing the 'Living Lab Laboratory' as their primary study location.
Enalife's solutions significantly improved soil fertility, seed germination, and livestock health, with testimonials highlighting the profound impact of EM on plant growth and crop yield. Some of the testimonials are as follows.
"The consistent use of EM enhances the health of my flower plants, resulting in the production of beautiful and charming flowers. I highly recommend incorporating EM into daily garden practices at home for optimal and more organic effects"
(Madam Norpisah, Registrar AIU)
"When I used EM on the Living Laboratory Lab site, I found the results very encouraging. Before we planted okra, eggplant, beans, and chili, but the results were not much and not fresh. Many crops die because of our lack of knowledge about agriculture. After being introduced to EM from Enalife, we found the results were more, fresher, and bigger. The use of EM for 2 weeks gives very quick and profitable results for the school"
(Pak Lang, SK Alor Setar Gardener)
"I have defended the limousine breed of cattle. Because of that, I also grow Napier as a source of food for my cattle. What I found is that the use of EM can help my cows to always be healthy and strong in addition to fighting diseases and keeping the digestive system healthy. The use of EM from Enalife has the best effect on the health of my cows following the recommendation of Enalife to give EM to my cows in the form of a drink. In addition, the planted Napier also shows a very good effect because the Napier will be fresher and longer when using EM and free from all chemical fertilizers that are harmful to the health of my cows. Thank you to Amir Qusyairi as the President of Club Enalife and his team who introduced this Effective Microorganisms (EM) to me."
(Redwan, ALU Staff)
Enalife’s impressive achievements reflect their unwavering dedication to their mission. Their partnership with SK Alor Setar led to the creation of a 'living laboratory lab,' showcasing their commitment to innovation and excellence. Enalife’s participation in the Hult Prize on Campus competition, where they competed against 47 other groups, secured a spot in the finale pitching with 12 selected groups, further highlighting their exceptional performance.
Enalife is ambitiously expanding its reach by introducing different types of organic products, building collaborations with more educational institutions, and hosting workshops to share essential knowledge with farmers and the broader community.
Enalife’s mission is to be a beacon of knowledge, leading the way toward a sustainable future and achieving zero poverty, unemployment, and net carbon emissions. Enalife continues to inspire generations to embrace sustainability, in line with their trademark “Nurturing Nature, Enhancing Life.