The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Airlangga (FF UNAIR) implemented research results for community benefit through a community service activity held at Papar Village Hall, Kediri Regency, on Friday, June 27, 2026. This activity was part of the research implementation under the Research Cooperation Scheme 2025 Number 5395/B/UN3.LPPM/PT.01.03/2025.
This program aimed to bring research results out of the laboratory so they could be directly utilized by the community. Through this activity, FF UNAIR sought to bridge academic research findings with community needs, particularly in the use of medicinal plants and improvement of family health.
Participants in the activity came from various community members and stakeholders, ranging from district government officials, village government officials, PKK (Family Welfare Movement) cadres, health workers, managers of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), to residents interested in developing family medicinal plants (TOGA) and herbal products. Participant enthusiasm was evident from the high level of participation during the material presentation and discussion sessions.
Research Team Chair, Prof. Dr. apt. Wiwied Ekasari, M.Si., explained that red spinach was chosen as the focus of the program because it has great potential to be developed by the community. Besides being easy to cultivate, this plant also contains various important nutrients beneficial for health.
"Red spinach was selected because it is easy to grow and rich in nutrients, such as iron, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that have potential to help prevent anemia," said Prof. Wiwied.
During the activity, the community service team provided education regarding the benefits of red spinach, good cultivation techniques, and opportunities for processing it into value-added products. The material provided was hoped to serve as a foundation for the community to develop herbal plant-based enterprises while improving family health quality.
Beyond introducing research results that have been developed, this activity also served as a means of community empowerment through the transfer of knowledge and technology. Consequently, the community not only obtained information regarding the health benefits of red spinach but also gained insights regarding the economic potential that could be generated from processing this plant.
FF UNAIR hopes that research results produced by its academic community can provide tangible impact for society and support the development of local potential in Kediri Regency. This activity also represents the concrete role of higher education in implementing the tri dharma of higher education, particularly in the fields of research and community service.
The implementation of this activity aligns with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through efforts to improve public health and prevent anemia based on local food resources, and SDG 4: Quality Education through the dissemination of knowledge and enhancement of community capacity in the use of medicinal plants and herbal products.
