In his presentation titled "Valorization of Rice and Cassava Crops for Producing Organic Amendments of Saline Soil and Creating Economic Development in Rural Areas," Prof. Robert shed light on the challenge of soil salinity, exacerbated by climate change, facing Indonesia, a major global rice producer.

With an alarming annual increase in saline-sodic land, reaching 440,000 hectares in 2021, strategies are urgently needed. Prof. Robert proposed utilizing rice and cassava waste to produce biochar, which, when applied to saline soil, significantly improves agricultural yields. A case study in West Kalimantan's Ketapang region demonstrated a doubling of rice yields per harvest using this method.

Moreover, he emphasized the potential of rice and cassava crops to yield high-value products, ranging from starch to biofuels, protein hydrolysates, and biocomposites, fostering economic growth in rural areas.

Prof. Robert also championed the concept of industrial symbiosis, advocating for resource-sharing among previously disparate production systems. By situating biomass processing facilities closer to agricultural zones, rural economies can flourish.

Additionally, Prof. Robert underscored the promise of microalgae as efficient solar energy harnessers, capable of producing up to 50,000 liters of oil per hectare per year. With the ability to thrive in seawater and utilize residual nutrients, microalgae offer a sustainable alternative to traditional oil sources like palm oil.

He concluded by envisioning Indonesia as a bioeconomy hub, leveraging its abundant natural resources to drive regional and global innovation in the bio-industry.

Reporter: Ardiansyah Satria Aradhana (Agricultural Engineering, 2020)
Translator: Firzana Aisya (Bioengineering, 2021)
Editor: Vera Citra Utami