UNDP–AIS Sidoarjo visit highlights Indonesia’s 69% share of global seaweed exports

Sidoarjo — — A high-level delegation from the Government of Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited seaweed cultivation and processing sites in Sidoarjo, East Java, on 17–18 September 2026 to examine how integrated production and value-chain investment could support sustainable coastal growth, according to UNDP and Indonesian media reports. UNDP stated that Indonesia accounted for approximately 69 percent of global seaweed exports in 2025, underscoring the sector’s strategic weight in the country’s blue economy.

The visit formed part of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, a Government of Indonesia initiative whose secretariat is hosted and facilitated by UNDP. Delegates included Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno, senior officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, representatives of the National Development Planning Agency and other ministries, local government and coastal communities, according to UNDP and local news coverage.

The delegation visited a seaweed cultivation site in Sidoarjo and the Agar Makmur Sentosa cooperative to observe how improvements beyond farming—such as drying, cleaning, pressing and market access—can help coastal producers retain more value domestically. The itinerary highlighted an “integrated approach” linking cultivation, post-harvest handling and cooperative management as a pathway to stronger livelihoods and a more resilient seaweed value chain.

From ponds to processing

UNDP described Sidoarjo as an important East Java centre for pond-based cultivation and processing of Gracilaria seaweed. In ponds affected by environmental changes following the 2006 Lapindo mudflow, seaweed cultivation has been combined with milkfish aquaculture, putting previously underused ponds back into productive use and creating additional economic opportunities for coastal communities. Studies of the Lapindo mudflow note long‑lasting impacts on water quality and coastal ecosystems in East Sidoarjo, which have constrained traditional aquaculture and required adaptation of local production systems.

During the field visit, delegates observed harvesting activities, rehabilitated ponds and on‑farm drying operations. At Koperasi Agar Makmur Sentosa, officials saw shared equipment and facilities for drying, cleaning and pressing seaweed, illustrating how cooperative structures can help small producers access processing capacity and markets beyond raw export.

According to UNDP, raw production is only one part of Indonesia’s seaweed story. The organisation identified low productivity, limited infrastructure and technology, skills gaps, and restricted access to markets and finance as continuing constraints on the industry. The Sidoarjo approach therefore links pond rehabilitation and water management with post‑harvest facilities, cooperative management and farmer training, with the stated aim of increasing domestic value addition, employment and income rather than simply boosting output.

Key figures and proposals highlighted in UNDP and supporting analyses include Indonesia’s approximate 69 percent share of global seaweed exports in 2025, the enduring environmental impacts of the 2006 Lapindo mudflow on Sidoarjo’s aquaculture areas, and a proposed Indonesia Seaweed Investment Partnership (ISIP) intended to coordinate investment, innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.

UNDP Resident Representative Sara Ferrer Olivella said Indonesia should move from being a leader in volume to a leader in value, linking that goal to higher‑value products, better jobs, stronger incomes and increased private‑sector investment.

Implications for East Nusa Tenggara

The Sidoarjo case offers a practical model for discussion in other coastal areas, but the available documentation does not establish how the approach would translate to conditions in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The UNDP announcement focuses on Sidoarjo and does not specify pilot sites in NTT, nor does it detail species mix, production systems or infrastructure in that province.

A pond‑based system that combines Gracilaria with milkfish may not be directly transferable to coastal communities where seaweed is grown in different environments—such as off‑shore lines or reefs—or where post‑harvest facilities and cooperative structures are organised differently.

For policymakers and coastal groups in NTT, the most immediately relevant lesson from Sidoarjo is the value‑chain perspective: linking cultivation to drying, cleaning, processing, transport and market access, supported by finance and technical assistance. Any replication would require assessments of water quality, available land or marine space, producer organisation, processing capacity, transport links, buyer demand and access to credit under local conditions.

UNDP has proposed the Indonesia Seaweed Investment Partnership as a mechanism to strengthen coordination, mobilize investment, foster innovation and accelerate sustainable growth. However, current public information does not yet specify its governance, financing structure, timetable, eligibility rules or implementation locations. Vice Foreign Minister Oegroseno emphasized that Indonesia’s blue economy strategy must balance development with protection of marine ecosystems that support coastal communities, framing environmental safeguards as central to any expansion of seaweed production.

The Sidoarjo visit thus illustrates how integrated seaweed cultivation and processing can underpin a more diversified and resilient coastal economy at a time when Indonesia is both a leading tropical seaweed producer and the source of roughly two‑thirds of global seaweed exports. For regions such as NTT, the policy challenge will be to adapt that model to local ecosystems and market realities while maintaining the balance between economic growth and coastal environmental protection.

Sources

• UNDP Indonesia press release: "UNDP-AIS Forum High-Level Visit to Sidoarjo Showcases How Seaweed can Drive Sustainable Coastal Growth"
• Metro TV News article on Indonesia targeting higher seaweed value to strengthen the blue economy
• Pantau.com report on UNDP encouraging seaweed value addition for Indonesia’s coastal communities
• FAO Globefish news: "Indonesia-China route anchors seaweed trade despite lower volumes"
• Geomate Journal article on Lapindo hot mud impacts on East Sidoarjo aquatic ecosystem
• UIN Malang article: "Rusaknya ekosistem akibat pengeboran lumpur lapindo"
• Indonesian-language Wikipedia article on the Sidoarjo hot mud flood (Lumpur Lapindo)
• Down to Earth report: "East Java mudflow disaster"