the university和the useful中the的读音

求助英语的一个语法问题
这句话中的 of benefit是怎么回事呢 这种of用法有点忘记了
The University's defence was that the results of research have been of benefit to the community as a whole through increased productivity and lower food prices,and that in any case the social consequences of its research were the responsibility of the whole community rather than of the University.