Medan – The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has once again achieved an accomplishment through apt. Ovalina Sylvia Br. Ginting, S.Farm., M.Si., who received funding under the 2026 TALENTA USU Community Service Program through the Pioneer Community Service Scheme. This achievement demonstrates the Faculty of Pharmacy USU’s commitment to developing community service programs based on research findings and local potential, with a focus on improving community welfare.
The funded community service proposal is entitled “JUWARA: Innovation of Tanjung Pura’s Signature Jeruju Bawang as a Functional Food to Support Improved Community Nutrition.” The program highlights the potential of jeruju as a functional food ingredient that is expected to provide added value to the community in terms of health, nutrition, and economic empowerment based on local resources.
In implementing the program, apt. Ovalina Sylvia Br. Ginting, S.Farm., M.Si. is supported by a community service team consisting of Hari Ronaldo Tanjung, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt.; Dr. T. Ismanelly Hanum, S.Si., M.Si., Apt.; Yade Metri Permata, S.Farm., M.Si., Apt.; and apt. Nur Aini Khairunnisa, S.Farm., M.Farm. This multidisciplinary collaboration is expected to produce an innovative and applicable community service program with sustainable impacts for the community.
Through the JUWARA program, the community service team will educate the public on the utilization of jeruju as a functional food ingredient with the potential to support improved nutritional status while increasing the economic value of local commodities. This approach focuses not only on knowledge transfer but also on encouraging the community to develop value-added products with the potential to become regional flagship products.
The successful acquisition of the 2026 TALENTA USU Community Service Program funding demonstrates the Faculty of Pharmacy USU’s commitment to integrating education, research, and community service as part of the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education. The program is expected to serve as a platform for downstreaming research findings, allowing innovations developed within the university to provide tangible benefits to the community.
This achievement is also expected to motivate other lecturers to continue developing innovative and sustainable community service programs capable of addressing various community needs through scientific approaches.
The community service program is also aligned with the Faculty of Pharmacy USU’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The utilization of functional foods to improve community nutritional status supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through efforts to strengthen food security and improve nutrition. Education on healthy foods and quality-of-life improvement contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). Community education and empowerment activities support SDG 4 (Quality Education) through science-based knowledge transfer. The development of products based on local potential also supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating opportunities to improve community livelihoods, as well as SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through the sustainable utilization of local resources.
The entire academic community of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara, extends its congratulations and best wishes to apt. Ovalina Sylvia Br. Ginting, S.Farm., M.Si., and the community service team on their successful receipt of funding under the 2026 TALENTA USU Community Service Program. May the program run successfully, provide tangible benefits to the community, strengthen the utilization of local potential, and inspire the development of impactful innovations that contribute to improving public health and welfare.