It is 13 times the initial value.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has encouraged the utilization of various Indonesian marine biota to be used as raw materials for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Acting Head of the ministry’s Research and Human Resources Agency Kusdiantoro stated in a press release here on Friday that Indonesia is known as an archipelagic country, with mega marine biodiversity, as there are over 8,500 species of marine biota in the country. "The diversity of biological resources has a potential to be developed into raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, functional food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics,” he remarked.

Hence, he noted that the utilization of resources must continue to be developed, so Indonesia can become an independent country in providing raw marine biota materials for the pharmaceuticals industry.

Kusdiantoro assessed that development of the biopharmacology industry has become one of the strategic marine issues.

Hence, the agency acting head stated that Indonesia must set a target to clock achievements in the development of marine biopharmacology by 2045 to meet the people’s demand and prevent new diseases.

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Kusdiantoro noted that one of Indonesia's marine biological resources had been raised to become one of the potential solutions to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The abundant wealth of marine biological resources is expected to become a solution in providing medicines. However, long and expensive preclinical and clinical trials must be conducted to get safe and effective medicine,” he remarked.

Thus, he stated that developing biopharmacology was both a challenge and opportunity, especially for researchers.

In addition, processing marine biota as biopharmaceutical industry products can also offer an added value, thereby increasing their economic value.

"For instance, exported fresh seaweed only had an economic value of $1,168 per ton. However, if we isolate its dye, the economic value will increase significantly to become $13,372 per ton. It is 13 times the initial value," he stated.

Seaweed is one of the priority commodities whose production will be increased by the ministry during the 2021-2024 period along with shrimp, lobster, and crab.

It has also been one of the leading export commodities, as its export value reached $236 million dollars during the period from January to September 2021.

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Translator: Razi Rahman, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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