USU PR - Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) agreed to establish cooperation with Wageningen University of Research Netherlands. The agreement took place during a visit by a delegation of Universitas Sumatera Utara, namely Vice Rector III of USU, Prof. Dr. Poppy Anjelisa Zaitun Hasibuan, S.Si, M.Si., Apt and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of USU, Dr. Ir. Tavi Supriana, MS, to Wageningen University of Research Netherlands, March 7-10, 2023.

Universitas Sumatera Utara delegation offered research cooperation in the field of agriculture. Some of the topics provided in the meeting agenda include; agribusiness, agronomy, plant breeding, soil science and plant protection, food and agricultural technology, animal science, and management of water resources.

On this occasion, Universitas Sumatera Utara has also involved in the WISE (Wageningen-Indonesia Scientific Exposure) activity which took the theme "Towards High-Quality Indonesian Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Through Multidisciplinary Collaborations."

The event was also attended by delegates from Universitas Syah Kuala (USK), Universitas Andalas (UNAND), Universitas Riau (UNRI), Universitas Jambi, LPDP, Dirjendikti, and BRIN. All delegates had agreed to create a research cooperation consortium involving the four universities and WUR (Wageningen University of Research).

This activity was facilitated by the Attaché of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia in Den Haag, the Netherlands, Dr. Agus Setiabudi, M.Si. The Vice Rector III of USU hopes that after establishing this cooperation with WUR, there will be more research collaborations between USU researchers and WUR researchers.

In the round table meeting, several topics were discussed, including sustainable protein production (economic sustainability, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, marine environment, land environment, and social environment. In addition, developing a solid Indonesian agricultural chain connects regional agricultural production to markets, improving food security, production, equitable distribution of profits, and preparedness in the face of epidemics and pandemics aimed at effective (cost) monitoring and other topics.

Prof. Poppy added that on February 23, 2023, there was an initiation of a research discussion between one of the agriculture lecturers (Dr. Diana Chalil) and Dr. Maja Slingerland (WUR) for the topic of sustainable palm in Jakarta. This is expected to be an entry point for improving the quality and quantity of international research collaborations by lecturers at the Universitas Sumatera Utara. (Renny Julia Harahap)

Author: Renny Julia Harahap - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Amri Simatupang - Humas