How Seaweed Farming Can Unlock Indonesia's Blue Economy
A joint delegation from the Indonesian government and UNDP visited Sidoarjo to inspect seaweed cultivation projects driving local blue economy growth.
In September 2026, a delegation from the Indonesian government and UNDP visited Sidoarjo to explore how seaweed can unlock Indonesia's blue economy potential. This visit is part of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, an initiative hosted by UNDP to demonstrate practical solutions for sustainable blue economy development. The delegation included officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and the National Development Planning Agency, among others.
Seaweed is one of the opportunities for Indonesia to enhance its blue economy, as the country is among the world's largest producers and exporters of tropical seaweed, particularly Gracilaria spp., accounting for about 69 percent of global seaweed exports in 2025. However, Indonesia can further benefit by improving productivity, processing, technology, and market access across the seaweed value chain. This can lead to more domestic value addition, job creation, and increased incomes for coastal communities.
Sidoarjo, a key center for pond-based Gracilaria seaweed cultivation and processing in East Java, is experiencing challenges due to environmental changes. In coastal ponds affected by the 2006 Lapindo mudflow, Gracilaria seaweed and milkfish are now cultivated together, revitalizing underutilized ponds and creating new economic opportunities for communities.
The Sidoarjo pilot demonstrates how addressing challenges such as low productivity, limited infrastructure, skills gaps, and market access difficulties can strengthen the fisherfolk exchange rate, attract private sector investment, and generate broader ecosystem benefits. By rehabilitating ponds, improving water management, and enhancing post-harvest facilities, shared equipment, cooperative management, and farmers' skills, the sector can move from a volume leader to a value leader.
UNDP Resident Representative Sara Ferrer Olivella emphasized that Indonesia has the potential to become a global leader in the seaweed industry by leveraging its marine resources, people, knowledge, and innovation to create sustainable economic value. The Sidoarjo experience highlights Indonesia's significant potential to build a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy, balancing development with marine ecosystem protection.
The visit underscores the importance of practical initiatives like the Sidoarjo seaweed experience in unlocking Indonesia's vast marine resources to generate better incomes and jobs, attract investment, and strengthen the country's role in the global blue economy. Through the AIS Forum, Indonesia can share these experiences and build international partnerships to unlock and scale blue economy opportunities across its archipelagic and island states.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
