Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 08:54 AM UTC

Indonesia turns to seaweed as strategic solution for food security

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M. Baqir Idrus Alatas, Yashinta Difa

Blue food is a vital part of food solutions; this includes seaweed,

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono highlighted seaweed as a crucial alternative to meet rising national and global food demands, without placing further strain on shrinking land resources.

Speaking at the National Seaweed Forum 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday (October 6), Trenggono emphasized that "blue food" options—particularly cultivated seaweed—offer a sustainable path forward as agricultural land availability continues to decline due to rapid conversion.

"Blue food is a vital part of food solutions; this includes seaweed, which can be cultivated without adding pressure on land," Trenggono said.

The minister pointed out that global food demand is expected to rise by 50 to 60 percent as the world population approaches 9.66 billion by 2050. During the same period, demand for fish protein is projected to jump 66 percent to 179 million tons.

In Indonesia, where the population is projected to reach 320.7 million by 2050, annual protein requirements will rise to 7.62 million tons, equivalent to 35 million tons of fresh fish. Meanwhile, the country loses over 100,000 hectares of rice paddies every year, leaving an estimated 5.1 million hectares of farmland by 2045.

Trenggono noted that Indonesia holds a strategic position as the world's second-largest seaweed producer. In 2025, national seaweed output reached 11.6 million tons, up 18.27 percent year-on-year, accounting for 42 percent of total domestic fishery production.

The sector currently supports over 200,000 farmers and the livelihoods of more than 1 million Indonesians, while offering environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and water quality enhancement.

Despite these strong production figures, the minister pointed out that the country's seaweed potential remains underutilized, particularly in terms of downstream processing.

In 2025, Indonesia exported 242,000 tons of seaweed valued at US$315 million, primarily to China. However, nearly 70 percent of these exports consisted of raw, dried seaweed rather than high-value derivative products.

Furthermore, out of 1,006 native seaweed species in Indonesian waters, local communities currently cultivate only six, led by carrageenan-producing Kappaphycus varieties and Eucheuma denticulatum.

To address challenges related to seedling quality, volatile market pricing, logistics and governance, the ministry has established an integrated five-pillar action plan.

The strategy covers production quality, downstream processing, technology and innovation, financing and investment as well as institutional governance.

"The focus of transformation must shift from merely chasing volume to prioritizing productivity, value addition and competitiveness. In this way, the market potential of seaweed can truly be translated into a robust industry and improved welfare for coastal communities," Trenggono concluded.

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