Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono announced plans to develop seaweed farming models in Rote Ndao and Southeast Maluku this year. This initiative aims to boost the national seaweed downstream industry. "This year, we plan to develop modeling in two additional locations, Rote Ndao and Southeast Maluku, each covering 50 hectares, with a target production of 2,187 tons of wet seaweed per year at each location," Minister Trenggono revealed during a seminar on integrated seaweed downstreaming at the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday (May 22, 2024). The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has previously established eco-friendly seaweed modeling in Wakatobi waters, Southeast Sulawesi, spanning 50 hectares. Minister Trenggono added that the seaweed farming model aims to enhance productivity, increase seaweed farmers' income, create job opportunities, and foster regional economic growth. In addition to seaweed farming modeling, the ministry is implementing a revitalization strategy to boost existing seaweed production by providing seedlings and tissue culture nurseries. Stability and quality production upstream, he noted, support the growth of the downstream seaweed industry.
In 2022, Indonesia's seaweed farming produced 9.23 million tons, predominantly of the Cottonii variant, which is used for carrageenan production, followed by Sargassum, Gracilaria, Haliminea, and Gelidium amanzii seaweed types. According to Future Market Insights in 2023, the global seaweed market reached USD 7.79 billion and is projected to grow to USD 19.66 billion by 2033, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.7% between 2023 and 2033. This projection presents significant business opportunities in both upstream and downstream seaweed sectors. Indonesia reportedly has 12.1 million hectares of potential seaweed farming land, with only 0.8% currently utilized. However, optimizing economic opportunities in the seaweed sector requires collaboration from all stakeholders. The launch of the tropical seaweed research center at the seminar will strengthen Indonesia's seaweed ecosystem. "At this forum, we invite all stakeholders, researchers, and investors to build partnerships and collaborations in research, innovation, and upstream-downstream integration, to advance the development of Indonesia's seaweed industry," he concluded.
