Indonesia Launches ITSRC at World Water Forum

The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment inaugurated the International Tropical Seaweed Research Center (ITSRC) in Badung District, Bali, on May 22, 2024 during the 2024 World Water Forum.

The launch was done in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, as well as the National Development Planning Ministry.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that the ITSRC represents a significant milestone in global cooperation for the research, development, and comprehensive integration of the seaweed industry.

"The ITSRC will serve as a center for studies, scientific research, technology transfer, and capacity building in the seaweed industry," he affirmed.

The research center's establishment also involved a partnership between the government, international seaweed experts, national seaweed practitioners and associations, universities both local and international, and development partners such as the World Bank, FAO, UNIDO, and the UN Global Compact.

During the launch event, the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry also hosted a Seminar on Accelerating the Upstream-Downstream Integration of the Seaweed Industry.

The Indonesian government aims to promote the downstream development of the seaweed industry, including the initiation of a pilot project for large-scale seaweed farming in Ekas Bay, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

Pandjaitan highlighted that numerous studies indicate significant potential for seaweed derivative products, such as biostimulants, organic fertilizers, food ingredients, bioplastics, and biofuels.

He stated that the downstream development of seaweed holds substantial economic promise, with Indonesian seaweed exports projected to reach US$19 billion by 2033. Additionally, every 100 hectares (ha) of seaweed farming can create employment for 150 people.

During the seminar and launch event, participants committed to three key objectives.

The first commitment is to enhance capacity development and productivity in the tropical seaweed industry, in line with sustainable development goals and Indonesia's Maritime Vision 2045: to become the world's maritime axis.

The second commitment focuses on strengthening global collaboration for the sustainable development of the tropical seaweed industry by promoting a unified vision for human well-being, prosperity, and the environment.

The third commitment involves the development and implementation of concrete plans to solidify the establishment of the ITSRC.