UMI Professor Develops High-Protein Waxy Corn Varieties

Makassar (ANTARA) - Professor Edy MP, a plant breeding expert from the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI), has successfully developed two new national superior varieties of high-protein waxy corn, projected to be an alternative for strengthening national food security. The two varieties, named Putra Baru 1 and Putra Baru 2, are the result of six years of research supported by funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Edy stated that the research was not only oriented towards increasing productivity but also towards providing alternative food with better nutritional quality. “What we have produced is not just a new variety, but waxy corn with higher protein content, increased productivity, and wide adaptability,” he said. In 2024, both varieties were officially released as national superior varieties through a Decree of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, allowing them to be widely cultivated by farmers in various regions. “We hope this variety can be one of the solutions in strengthening national food security while improving farmers’ welfare,” he added. He explained that besides the protein content reaching 11.52 percent for Putra Baru 1 and 11.64 percent for Putra Baru 2, both varieties also have high productivity. Putra Baru 1 has the potential to yield up to 8.88 tonnes per hectare, while Putra Baru 2 can reach 8.54 tonnes per hectare. Both also have a high amylopectin content that produces a pulen texture, making them a potential superior local food and an alternative to rice. UMI Rector Prof. Dr. Hambali Thalib stated that this success demonstrates the strategic role of higher education in addressing national challenges through applied research. “UMI does not want to be just a diploma mill. UMI wants to be a solution provider. The measure of a university’s success is not just the number of graduates or publications, but the extent to which knowledge can bring real benefits to society,” said Hambali. Appreciation for the discovery also came from the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, who called the release of the Putra Baru 1 and Putra Baru 2 varieties an important breakthrough. He said UMI’s success proves that universities are capable of producing superior varieties that open up great opportunities for strengthening national food independence. He added that such innovations need to be continuously encouraged so that Indonesia has more plant varieties that are adaptive to climate change, productive, and capable of addressing future food challenges.