Membedah Manfaat Spirulina
Membedah Manfaat Spirulina
Fisheries Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held the 15th Annual National Seminar on Fisheries and Marine Research 2017 at Prof. Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium, Faculty of Agriculture UGM on Saturday (22/7). This event aimed to facilitate the meeting among researchers, businessmen, governments, and all stake holders on fisheries and marine sector to discuss various research achievements and current information development.
The seminar presented two keynote speakers, they were Dr. Siti Ari Budhiyanti, S.TP., M.P. from Department of Fisheries UGM and Dr. Ir. Akhmad Fairus Mai Soni, M.Si. from Brackishwater Fisheries Cultivation Centre in Jepara, Central Java Province. In the occasion, Akhmad presented materials regarding opportunities and challenges in cultivating spirulina. Spirulina is a spiral-shaped micro alga that lives in freshwater (alkaline or sea water).
“Currently, there are two species of Spirulina that have been developed which are Spirulina platensis and Spirulina maxima,” said Akhmad.
Akhmad said according to FAO, spirulina had been consumed since 1979. It has a beneficial content for both human and animal health. Spirulina contains higher protein than beef and fish. He said based on various research, Spirulina can solve various health problems, including malnutrition, cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, etc.
“Out of the world’s producers of spirulina, Israel is in the highest rank with 120,000 tons per year, while in Indonesia the production of Spirulina is still low. Therefore, we have to develop this potential,” he added.
On the other hand, Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Jamhari, S.P., M.P., said Indonesia’s fisheries and marine potential is supposed to run linearly with the economic potential. However, if we look at the current condition, the contribution of the agro sector that includes agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and marine only reaches 14% of the gross domestic product.
“The research that we routinely develop is expected to encourage and drive the water resources potential,” said Jamhari.