Indonesia is positioning seaweed as its next “green gold,” with growing investor interest in downstream processing to unlock up to 13 times added value. Coordinated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment, the initiative is still in the feasibility study phase, in collaboration with UC Berkeley, with pilot sites in Bali and Lombok. State investment agency Danantara is among those closely monitoring the project. Key derivative products include organic fertilizer, carrageenan, agar, and even bioethanol, with seaweed prices potentially rising from US$1,000–2,000 per ton to as high as US$13,000 per ton depending on the end use. The government aims to produce 4 billion liters of ethanol from seaweed, which could meet 10% of jet biofuel demand, requiring 260,000 hectares of cultivation. The program also supports food security and poverty alleviation in coastal areas, where 26% of Indonesia’s population resides. Seaweed’s rapid 30-day harvest cycle offers consistent income opportunities, alongside other aquaculture like lobsters and abalone. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is developing seaweed-based biofertilizers to support 100,000 hectares of farmland, helping to close the gap in national fertilizer supply, which currently meets only half of the 13 million-ton demand. With seaweed fertilizer already on the market and produced by KKP-supported businesses in Bali, the initiative reflects Indonesia’s broader shift toward sustainable, marine-based economic development.Source: https://indonesiabusinesspost.com/4503/investment-and-risk/indonesia-eyes-seaweed-as-next-green-gold-with-promising-downstream-investment (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Indonesia Business Post, 13 June 2025