Seaweed-based bioindustry innovations in Indonesia
As the world’s second-largest seaweed producer, Indonesia is planning to utilize its natural strength to develop bioindustry.
Dried seaweed in Indonesia. (Source: freepik)
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia revealed its commitment in developing seaweed-based bioindustry innovations through intensive research from upstream to downstream.
In Lombok, Indonesia, a research center with complete laboratory facilities, including analysis tools, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), has been established.
In the past two years, the research has focused on microalgae, seaweed, and sea cucumber, which have many bioperspective benefits, for food, cosmetics, biostimulants, bioplastics, and bioenergy.
Various seaweed-derived products have already been developed, including cosmetic products, nutraseticals, biostimulants, biomaterials, and bioenergy. Some of the innovations are also developed with local industries and MSMEs, including yoghurt from seaweed, sea shredded, sea tortillas, and cosmetics from picoeritin extract
In the Forum Group Discussion “Blue Economy: Development and Utilisation of Seaweed and Salt Potential” held on October 30, Fahrurozi, Head of the Marine and Land Bioindustry Research Center in BRIN, revealed BRIN’s plan to establish the International Tropical Seaweed Research Centre in Lombok.
The facility is expected to become a center for tropical seaweed research from seedling development to downstream processes, with end products such as biostimulants, food, nutraseticals, and bioenergy.
