The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has once again demonstrated its research excellence with a number of its lecturers successfully securing TALENTA Research Grants for Fiscal Year 2026 under various research schemes. This achievement underscores the faculty's commitment to developing high-quality research that promotes innovation, advances science and technology, and addresses strategic challenges in agriculture and sustainable development.

The accomplishment reflects the dedication of the Faculty of Agriculture's academic community to producing competitive, impactful, and socially relevant research. Through TALENTA funding, the recipients are expected to generate scientific discoveries that not only enrich academic knowledge but also foster innovations capable of improving community welfare and strengthening the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The funded research projects cover a wide range of strategic themes, including food security, climate change adaptation, environmental conservation, food technology development, biological resource utilization, animal health, and renewable energy innovation. This diversity highlights the Faculty's active contribution to addressing national and global development challenges through research-based scientific approaches.

For Fiscal Year 2026, Faculty of Agriculture lecturers received funding through five research schemes:

  • Basic Research
  • Applied Research
  • Research Center of Excellence/Research Center/Study Center
  • International Collaborative Research
  • Western Indonesia Collaborative Research

Basic Research Scheme

Nine lecturers were awarded funding under the Basic Research Scheme:

  • Prof. Dr. Ir. Yaya Hasanah, M.Si. – Photosynthetic pigment changes, antioxidant activity, and flavonoid content in soybeans under drought stress through the role of phenylalanine.
  • Nur Rohim, S.Pi., M.Si. – Integrating carrying capacity and blue carbon potential for sustainable ecotourism development at Monkey Beach, Deli Serdang.
  • Vista Uli Sihombing, S.P., M.Si. – Vulnerability, resilience, and sustainable agriculture adoption among rice farming households to strengthen food security in North Sumatra.
  • Dr. Adian Rindang, S.TP., M.Si. – Effects of osmotic-ultrasonic dehydration and freezing methods on durian pulp quality.
  • Nur Ulina Warnisyah Br. Sebayang, M.Agr. – Agroecological characteristics and soil quality across elevation gradients affecting the quality of Lintong Arabica coffee beans.
  • Nazif Ichwan, S.TP., M.Si., Ph.D. – Performance of several rice cultivars under different irrigation regimes in response to rising air temperatures.
  • Yusni Khairani Tampubolon, S.Pt., M.Sc. – Non-genetic factors influencing reproductive indices of swamp buffalo cows.
  • Dr. Wahyu Haryati Maser, S.TP., M.Si. – Geographical authentication of North Sumatran Arabica coffee using FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis.
  • Ir. Fuad Hasan, S.Pt., M.Si., IPM. – Metabolomic profiling in semen sexing differentiation for precision breeding of superior Dorper sheep.

Applied Research Scheme

Funding under the Applied Research Scheme was awarded to:

  • Dr. Nini Rahmawati, S.P., M.Si. – Optimizing sweet potato production and quality through nanochitosan application under saline stress conditions.
  • Dr. Ir. Nevy Diana Hanafi, S.Pt., M.Si., IPM. – Improving the quality of oil palm fronds as ruminant feed through staged fermentation using indigenous microbes.
  • Ir. Peni Patriani, S.Pt., M.P., IPM., ASEAN Eng. – Low-temperature wet-aging preservation of beef for standardized quality, food safety, and economic feasibility assessment.

Research Center of Excellence/Research Center/Study Center Scheme

Funding under this scheme was awarded to:

  • Prof. Dr. Ir. Elisa Julianti, M.Si. – Optimizing the agronomic potential and bioactive compound content of Samosir shallots through colchicine-induced polyploidization.

International Collaborative Research Scheme

The following lecturers secured funding under the International Collaborative Research Scheme:

  • Prof. Riswanti Sigalingging, S.TP., M.Si., Ph.D. – Effects of reactor length and oil-methanol flow rate on biodiesel quality using a helical static mixer reactor.
  • Dr. Ir. Nurzainah Ginting, M.Sc. – Development of gambier-supplemented livestock biscuits as climate-adaptive animal feed.

Western Indonesia Collaborative Research Scheme

Funding was awarded to:

  • Dr. Ir. Haryati, M.P. – Development of biodegradable mulch from citronella distillation waste combined with PGPR application to support sustainable upland rice production systems.

These achievements are expected to further strengthen the research culture within the Faculty of Agriculture, expand national and international research collaborations, and enhance the institution's reputation as a center of excellence in agricultural science and innovation.

Beyond advancing scientific knowledge, these research projects also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through the development of sustainable technologies and innovative solutions for agriculture, food systems, environmental management, and community well-being.

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, extends its sincere congratulations and appreciation to all recipients of the TALENTA Research Grants for Fiscal Year 2026. The Faculty hopes that these research initiatives will generate impactful innovations, deliver tangible benefits to society, and further reinforce the Faculty of Agriculture USU's position as a leading institution in research, innovation, and community engagement.