Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is encouraging the use of Spirulina platensis microalgae as an innovative solution to support sustainable aquaculture and fisheries development in the country.A researcher at BRIN's Research Center for Marine Aquaculture Siti Faridah said during a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday that spirulina has significant potential as a functional feed ingredient for both fish hatcheries and grow-out operations.”Besides being developed as a standalone industrial commodity, spirulina can greatly support the fisheries industry. It can be used as a nutritional enrichment ingredient in feed for both hatchery and grow-out activities,” Faridah said.According to her, spirulina has been selected over other microalgae species because of its rapid growth rate, ease of harvesting, superior nutritional value, and high digestibility.Spirulina contains up to 65 percent protein, she added, exceeding many conventional protein sources.Its protein content is reported to be around six times higher than that in eggs and three times higher than that in beef, while also surpassing chicken, milk, and cheese in protein concentration.Spirulina, Faridah explained, offers high efficiency throughout the aquaculture production chain.Its biomass residue can be fully utilised as a raw material for fish feed and other livestock feed, helping address global challenges related to food security and pressure on aquatic ecosystems.Regarding its cultivation, Faridah explained spirulina production involves three main stages, namely laboratory-scale culture, intermediate-scale culture, and mass-scale cultivation. For commercial production, cultivation systems have evolved from conventional ponds to advanced photobioreactor technology.”Photobioreactors are more efficient than conventional systems because they require less land while delivering higher productivity and minimising contamination, although they demand greater investment and technological expertise,” Faridah said.She added the successful cultivation of spirulina depends on several key environmental factors, including temperature, salinity, light intensity, and water pH.Beyond its ecological benefits in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), spirulina also offers promising economic prospects.Citing data from Allied Market Research, Faridah said the global spirulina market is projected to expand from US$393.6 million (around Rp7 trillion) in 2019 to US$897.61 million (around Rp16 trillion) by 2027. (US$1 = Rp17,900).Although global production remains largely dominated by China, Indonesia's spirulina industry has gradually begun to take shape.She noted two pioneering large-scale companies in Semarang, Central Java, have reportedly reached a combined production capacity of 108 tons per year.”The prospects for spirulina cultivation are highly promising and deserve further development to help drive a more advanced and modern fisheries industry in Indonesia,” Faridah said.