The Roles of Seaweed on Climate Change, Food Security and Natural
Product
A. Niartiningsih* and Elly Wahyudin**
(* Dean of Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fiheries, ** Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy,
Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the potential role of seaweed in reducing global
warming and climate change, contributing to food security and producing natural
products. The role of seaweed on controlling climate change is through reducing
carbon dioxide and converting seaweed into the bio fuel. The use of bio-fuel could
reduce the traditional hydrocarbon as energy that produces carbon emission. Fresh and
processed seaweed are commonly used as a food. This may contribute significantly to
the food supply especially on the developing countries that have big potential of
seaweed resources and farming. For example, Indonesia has potential production of
seaweed Gracilaria and Kappaphycus which reaches about 170.000 ton dryweight.
This is an enourmous amount of seaweed production, and most people in the eastern
part of Indonesia consume fresh seaweed as their daily meal. The other role of seaweed
is producing natural products. Through delicate processing seaweed produce special
substances that can be used in medicine, cosmetic, and agriculture as pesticide or
fertilizer. This paper also describes current research and farming of seaweed
development in Indonesia especially conducted by Hasanuddin University. Many
researchers have been done by Hasanuddin University, from seed production, culture
methods to post harvest of seaweed. Various products have been developed by Faculty
f Pharmacy at Hasanuddin University such as seaweed sun block cream have been
formulated using red, brown, and green algae, alginate from Sargassum for coating of
microencapsule.
Key words: seaweed, climate change, food security and natural product
I. INTRODUCTION
Seaweeds, also known as marine macroalgae, are very abundant across the
ocean, especially in the shallow marine ecosystem and very diverse species in groups of
green, red, and brown algae. These algae are particularly important not only as part of
the marine ecosystem, but also become sources of foods and other natural products
since long time ago. Since issue of climate change and food security become crucial
issues in the last decade, the potential roles of the seaweed, especially through seaweed
mass aquaculture then become more crucial.
Global warming and climate change due to green house effect of increase CO2
in the atmosphere has been very ‘hot’ international issue in the last decade due to the
‘alarming’ impacts on earth’s ecosystem. The impact of this global warming not only
on the atmosphere but also to the ocean system, because the interactions of both control
the climate of this planet. If the temperature increases in the atmosphere, it will also
affect the sea surface temperature. This will in turn affect ocean current pattern and air
pressure pattern above the ocean, thus will change the climate pattern of this earth
(Sterr, 2001).
The effect of this climate change or global warming on this planet will affect all
people and countries. Some people or countries might be more vulnerable, e.g., coastal
communities and countries. For example, in the last few months (April-June 2010)
increasing sea surface temperature (SST) around Indonesia and South Eas Asia due to
Elnino phenomena (NOAA, 2010) has caused significant effect on coral bleaching and
potentially coral mortality. This is a real treat, especially to the developing countries
that has relatively low ability to adapt with the various impacts of climate changes
including impacts on marine resources and fisheries, sea level rise, storm, etc.
Therefore serious efforts need to be adopted and developed toward potential solution
for reducing carbon emission and increasing carbon capture as effective means of
climate change mitigation. In addition to reforestation as a classic means of combating
global warming, seaweeds as marine plants are also potential for capturing significant
amount of atmospheric carbon, especially through extensive seaweed culture.
As the largest archipelagic state, Indonesia is very potential in developing
seaweeds culture especially Kappaphycus and Gracilaria as significant export
commodity. This has been developed to improve coastal communities’ income, reduce
unemployment, and country’s source of revenue. Seaweed products are not only used
for high quality food, but also raw material for cosmetic and medicine. In addition,
seaweed can also be developed as alternative source of biofuel, which in turn reduce
the use of hydrocarbon which has been significantly contributing to the carbon
emission to our atmosphere.
This paper discusses potential roles of seaweed in reducing global warming and
climate change as well as strengthening food security. Additionally, this paper also
explains the potential use of seaweed as raw material for cosmetic and medicine.
II. SEAWEEDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Seaweed culture has been growing significantly along the coasts of Indonesia in
the last few years. Facilitated and supported by government programs, Indonesian
people, especially coastal community and private sectors have been very enthusiastic in
developing seaweed culture and industries. This efforts bring Indonesia to become the
biggest producer of seaweed in the world. Most recent data show that the production of
seaweed in Indonesia is about 170.000 ton dry weight, and south Sulawesi have been
contributed 50 % from that figure.
Seaweed generally culture as a family scale activity. Simple culture technology
such as floating mono line and off bottom system using for different species of
seaweed. Now days, area of seaweed culture in Indonesia is about 57.000 Ha. These
figure reflect the area of the sea covered by seaweed and directly take up carbon from
the water. For example, 1m2 of sea grass area could take up 520mgC/hr. Coutrier
(2009) also give example that marine phytoplankton has a similar roles with forests in
reducing CO2, which able to reduce carbon up to 50 billion metric ton per years.
Since the growth of marine plant such as seaweed will uptake the CO2
effectively for their photosynthetic activities. Seaweed may play important roles in
capturing the increasing emissions of CO2 that has caused global warming and climate
change. Therefore, development of sea weed culture is one of the promising remedies
to eliminate global climate effect.
Despite the potential roles of seaweed for climate change mitigation, there also
has been concern that global warming might affect marine organisms including
seaweed aquaculture. The significant increased of SST during April to June 2010,
which up to 2-3 0C has been associated with more ice-ice phenomena on Kappaphycus
culture were observed during that period of warming SST. Therefore, in the context of
seaweed and climate change, not only mitigation aspects but also adaptation issues
need to be addressed simultaneously.
III. SEAWEED FOR FOOD SECURITY
Seaweed culture activities have been developed rapidly in Indonesia. This rapid
growth has been well supported by increasing demand from exporting countries and
relative vast area available for aquaculture both at coastline and ponds which has 2
million ha and 1 million ha respectively (MMAF, 2007). Moreover, significant support
by Indonesian government which had targeted to be the biggest seaweed producer in
the world in 2009, gave even more enthusiasm for coastal communities and fishermen
to develop this seaweed culture throughout Indonesian coastal line.
The Government of South Sulawesi Province has made policy to opt for
seaweed as one of its main important commodities to be developed through aquaculture
along the coastal line and ponds. This decision was based on the facts that South
Sulawesi has high quality and has vast areas suitable for seaweed culture. This activity
is technically easy and can be done at relatively small scale by local communities. The
price of the product is also relatively high and stable due to increasing demand by
international market. Therefore seaweed in this province can contribute to increase
local government revenue and improve livelihood of coastal communities.
Data on the seaweed export from South Sulawesi in the year from 2006-2008
showed a significant increase from 6,740 ton in 2006 to 15,321.6 in 2007 and increase
again to 17,773.1 ton in 2008. The export value of the seaweed in 2008 was US$ 8.7
million (Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan Sulawesi Selatan, 2008).
Global seaweed business opportunities have grown bigger and bigger partly
because the development of science and technology on seaweed product usages both
processed and raw materials. Processed seaweed can be exported in forms of powder
or chips through semi-refine Carrageenan or other forms. International demands on this
processed seaweed have been increased from many countries such as Asia (Malaysia,
Singapore, Philippine, China, Hongkong, and Korea), Europe (France and UK) as well
as America (Chili).
Carrageenan and other seaweed products such as alginate can be used as
materials for industries on pharmacy, cosmetic, food, etc (Mubarak et al. 1990). As
food, seaweed can be consumed fresh like salad or through processing traditionally or
small scale industry. For example In South Sulawesi, many of seaweed based food or
drink have been produced such cake, candy, juice, etc. With the fast growing
population of people in this planet, one of the biggest challenges in the future is food
availability both quality and quantity. Seaweed should be considered as one of the
solutions of this challenges to ensure food security for our next generation.
IV. SEAWEED AS NATURAL PRODUCT FOR MEDICINE AND COSMETIC
Traditional medicine is regarded as accumulation of the experience intellect that
humans have been performed the prevention and treatment of disease utilizing the
natural providence and blessings. With a mission, Pharmacy Faculty of Hasanuddin
University aims to contribute the evaluation of traditional medicine(s) scientifically
using high technology that have been developed remarkably in late years, for
constructing a new medical and pharmaceutical system with harmonization between the
traditional and modern medical system, and to establish holistic medical cares including
the maintenance of natural environment. For the purpose of achieving this mission, our
institute promotes the following principal subjects such as 1) the ensuring and
preserving of natural medicine resources, 2) the fundamental researches of medical and
pharmaceutical sciences, and harmonization of the traditional and modern medical
systems, 3) the foundation of a central base dispatching the information of traditional
medicine researches, building up closer connection with researches in our institute, and
performing cooperative works with domestic and international scientists, 4) developing
health food and drink from natural product.
Seaweed has long been used by communities in South Sulawesi as food and
medicines. As a source of nutrients, seaweed contain carbohydrates (sugar or
vegetable-gum), protein, fat, ash is largely a compound of sodium and potassium salts.
In addition, seaweed also contain vitamins, like vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12 dan C,
beta-carotene, and minerals, like potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, and
iodine (1). From the study of Indonesian Seaweed ethnopharmacology, found that 38
species from 18 genera consisting of 7 species of green algae, 13 species of red algae,
and 18 species of brown algae are used as tradicional medicines used by the public.
Some types are also used as traditional cosmetics, such as refresher powder or lotion
and sunstroke treatment (stupor or unconsciousness due to sunlight) (1). Some other
content of seaweed among which is the form of fat and fatty acid derivates, steroid
(fucosterol and sargasterol) which have a hypercholesterolemic effect, holothurinas
anti-tumor peculiar property, slow the movement of amoeba and assist the work of
leukocytes in the body’s defense system, Terpenes (zonarol and isozonarol) that have
antifungal activity, and several types of nitrogenous compounds such as eloidosin that
stimulates smooth muscle work and is a strong hypotensive nutritious ingredients (2).
Based on these facts, Hasanuddin University has done many researches related
development of seaweed quality and quantity. Pharmacy faculty of Hasanuddin
University found that seaweed as a source of new substances which have unique
structure and pharmacologically very potent. Therefore, it has conducted some
researches using seaweed as raw material to make drug, health food, and cosmetic.
Seaweed as a raw material for sunblock and anti-aging cream
One of many seaweeds cultivated in the coastal areas of South Sulawesi are
Euchema spinosum and Euchema cottoni. Euchema spinosum is one type of red algae
(Rhodophyta) that are generally compounds containing chlorophyll and carotenoids (αand β- carotene), vitamin A, B, C and fatty acids as well As chromopore groups that
have activity against UV rays among others phycobillin, phycoerythrins, phycocyanin,
phycourobilin, allophycocyanin, phycoerythrocyanin (2,3).
The sunlight that reaches Earth’s surface consists of visible light (with
wavelengths between 4000 and 7400 A). Light with a longer wavelength (7500-53000
A) is called infra red, and light with shorter wavelength (2800-400) A is known as
ultraviolet (4). Sunscreen is very beneficial for skin health and beauty such as to
prevent sunburn, the emergence of the changes due to sensitivity to light, disable the
immune system of the skin, premature aging, and others.
Electromagnetic spectrum of UV light with a wavelength of 100-400 nm were
divided into 3 waves energy including UV A (320-400 nm), UV B (290-320 nm) and
UV C (100-290 nm). UV radiation reaching the earth includes the UV A and UV B,
UV C, which only UV C is absorbed by atmospheric ozone. Exposure to light with
wavelength in the UV region A will stimulate the formation of melanin in the dermis
layer that works as protective layer on the skin. UV radiation around 300 nm (UV B)
penetrate the stratum corneum and epidcermal layers are strong enough to cause
erythema (severe sunburn). The existance of these pigments can assists in absorbing the
UV rays are harmful to human skin. Development in “cosmetic world” nowdays are the
making of sunblock or sunscreen preparation which has been very helpful in protecting
skin against UV light exposure (5).
The existance of the components of carotenoid, tocopherol, mycosporine,
glycine compounds in seaweed, might also presents in Euchema cottoni, potentially as
natural antioxidant (free radical catcher) that can then formulated in dosage forms of
cosmetic skin anti-aging.
Pharmacy Faculty of Hasanddin University has formulated sunblock and cream
using Euchema cottoni and Euchema spinosum as raw materials that physically stable
and pharmacologically active as antioxidant.
Seaweed as raw material for pharmaceutical exipient
Alginate sodium is main metabolite of brown algae (Phaeopiceae). Alginate is
useful because its salt properties, which become dissolved in water and form thin layer
so that can be used as coagulation agent, emulsifier, suspension agent and thin layer
maker in food, textile, pharmacy, and agriculture industries. In pharmaceutical industry,
alginate sodium salt is mainly used for suspension, capsule, filter, ointment, and plester
production. Whereas in cosmetic industry, can be used in cream soap, lotio, and hair
dye production (6).
The development of pharmaceutical dosage form, recently, is directed on how
to exploit natural products as adjuvant in drug production, including long acting or
sustained released dosage forms. One of them is alginate. Alginate can be used as a
carrier in sustained drug released. it is caused by alginate properties that is non toxic,
non allergic, biodegradable, and can be changed to be simple sugars so that can be
absorbed easily.
Pharmacy Faculty of Hasanuddin University has extracted alginate from
Sargassum siliquosum taken from Barang Lompo, South Sulawesi and resulted 21,42
% dry extract. Furthermore, it has conducted a research about how to use alginate
sodium as a coat in slow release teophyllin microencapsulated. Another research used
alginate sodium from Sargassum siliquosum as dispersion agent in foundation cream
from eggshell.
Health Food and Drink
As a source of nutrients, seaweed contain carbohydrates (sugar or vegetablegum), protein, fat, ash is largely a compound of sodium and potassium salts. In
addition, seaweed also contain vitamins, like vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12 dan C, betacarotene, and minerals, like potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, and iodine
(1).
Carrageenan powder ia a galactan that is extracted from red algae
(Rhodophyceae) and consist of two fractions, i.e. k-carrageenan and i-carrageenan .
Carrageenan is rich in fiber that useful for our health.
Pharmacy faculty of Hasanuddin University has developed health food using
seaweed result corn soup plus seaweed. In addition, it has designed instant food
product with “Indonesian Breakfast Style” used seaweed and corn as raw materials
(marketed). Pharmacy faculty of Hasanuddin University ,recently, has designed an
imunomodulator herbal drink that using carrageenan as an emulsifier.
V. CONCLUSIONS
 Seaweeds are very abundant naturally in the shallow marine ecosystem and
especially potential to be produced in massive scale through aquaculture, especially in
Indonesia as the biggest archipelagic country.
 Seaweed as fast growing marine plants can uptake the CO2 effectively for
their photosynthetic activities. Seaweed may play important roles in capturing the
increasing emissions of CO2, hence potential remedies to eliminate global climate
effect.
 The recent global warming that increased SST also might threat seaweed
aquaculture. Hence, in relation to climate change, seaweed has to be considered both
for mitigation as well as the need to find the best strategy for adaptation.
 The high quality components of seaweeds have been contributing to provide
alternative healthy foods for human being, thus potentially become a source of
alternative food to ensure food security for our next generation in this earth.
 High variety of excellent natural products been found in variety of seaweed
species have been utilized as raw material for many different medicines and cosmetics.
 There are still ample rooms or opportunities for developing products of
many seaweed species not only as source of food and medicine, but also for bio-fuel.
Hence, seaweed is a real potential for climate change mitigation, food security, and
supporting high life quality of human population on earth.
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