UNAIR NEWS – Intensifying climate change is increasingly threatening global food security, with smallholder farmers among the most vulnerable. The growing risks have accelerated the search for technology-driven solutions to strengthen agricultural resilience, an issue that has gained prominence in international academic competitions.
In response, five students from the Economics program Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), competing as Team AgriTerrace, won a gold medal at the essay competition of the International Student Summit 2026, held in February 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team, Jose Centurio Siahaan, Fawaz Januar Iksan, Laura Amaria Dwiputri Julianti, Fachry Haris and Mesakh Roi Pratama Ginsu, competed against hundreds of teams from six countries at the event organized by the Sentosa Foundation in partnership with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and the World Associations of Young Scientist.
Digital innovation for smallholder farmers
At the competition, Team AgriTerrace presented a project titled AGRITERRACE: Strengthening Smallholder Resilience through AI-Driven Satellite Analytics and Microfinance in Climate-Vulnerable Regions. The proposal centers on boosting the resilience of small-scale farmers in regions prone to climate shocks and recurring crop failures.
The team developed a digital platform that combines artificial intelligence with satellite data analytics to generate early climate risk predictions. The system is integrated with microfinance features designed to expand small farmers’ access to capital.
Participants came from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkmenistan, Somalia and Kenya. The intense competition served as both a learning opportunity and a benchmark for meeting global standards of innovation.
“A strong innovation is not just about having a smart idea, it also requires collaboration and the ability to meet global standards,” Julianti said.
Intensive preparation and fierce competition
The team spent four to five months preparing for the international stage. Their work began with identifying key issues, strengthening their research framework, refining the concept and conducting rigorous presentation rehearsals.
Their biggest challenge was the high level of competition. Several teams represented leading universities, including master’s-level students, raising the bar for research quality and analytical rigor.
For their performance, Team AgriTerrace earned one of eight gold medals awarded to the highest-scoring teams. They were also named first runner-up overall and secured the Grand Champion title alongside another UNAIR team.
“We learned that consistency in research and strong teamwork are crucial to competing internationally,” Siahaan said.
The achievement marks a significant milestone not only for the Economics program but also for UNAIR’s broader international profile. Through research-driven and practical innovation, the university continues to demonstrate its capacity to produce graduates capable of addressing complex global challenges.
Author: Era Fazira
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
