Developing a food safety model for biogenic silica powder from palm oil boiler ash using soft system methodology

Palm oil is a strategic commodity for Indonesia, accounting for approximately 42% of the global supply. The increase in palm oil production has led to a growing volume of waste, particularly palm oil boiler ash, which contains biogenic silica with potential economic value. This study aims to develop a Soft System Methodology (SSM)-based model for optimizing the production of biogenic silica powder from palm oil boiler ash as an adsorbent to improve food packaging quality. The research applied Soft Systems Methodology, supported by Rich Pictures, Input–Process–Output (IPO) modeling, and the CATWOE framework. A conceptual model integrating biogenic silica characteristics and food safety requirements was developed. The results show that SSM effectively describes the complexity of biogenic silica utilization systems. Rich Picture illustrates relationships among waste sources, production processes, quality testing, risk assessment, and environmental impacts. The IPO model clarifies the transformation of inputs into value-added adsorbent products. The conceptual food safety model includes biogenic silica characteristics (porosity, moisture content, and SiO₂ content) and food safety parameters (microbiological, bacterial, and shelf-life testing). In conclusion, the proposed model supports systematic improvement through process standardization and raw material quality control, contributing to sustainable waste utilization and enhanced food packaging quality.