Our Farming

Farming Sites

Nestled in the enchanting eastern part of Indonesia, RKN strategically positions its farming sites within the Coral Triangle, a global hotspot for marine biodiversity. This region boasts some of the world’s most stunning and diverse marine ecosystems, benefiting from optimal year-round conditions driven by robust currents and water flow from the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Although located within the renowned Coral Triangle, achieving optimal seaweed growth requires careful management of several key factors

Water Temperature

Choosing a location with an appropriate water temperature is paramount. Excessive heat can stress the seaweed, hindering growth and increasing susceptibility to diseases like ice-ice. This is something we need to think more and more about due to increasing ocean temperatures

Surrounding Water Ecosystem

Integrating seaweed farms with surrounding ecosystems can enhance marine biodiversity by providing habitat and protection from sunlight and human activities, benefiting both seaweed and coral. However, various marine species, such as sea turtles, triggerfish, and rabbitfish, which feed on seaweed, can impact yields. To mitigate these effects, adapting farming techniques is essential to maintain balance and ensure sustainable production.

Water Flow

Seaweed thrives in the presence of water flow. By choosing a location with strong currents we can prevent excess nutrient accumulation, safeguarding the seaweed from algae and other organisms while preventing water stagnation and overheating. but this also means to higher risk of malfunction in lines and anchors.

Water Depth

By cultivating seaweed farms at varying depths, we can ensure that each site maintains the most suitable conditions—avoiding overly warm surface layers or depths with insufficient sunlight that could hinder growth. The optimal level within the water column can be determined based on the specific seaweed strain and the quality of the seedlings, maximizing growth potential and overall yield.

Limited amount of fresh water.

Seaweed is very sensitive to fresh water and consistency in pH and salinity is crucial. Proximity to river mouths during the rainy season can lead to water mixing, potentially affecting harvest yields. Rain fall during the drying process is also problematic sinc this will reduce the quality of the seaweed significantly.

Water Quality

To ensure optimal water quality for seaweed cultivation, we regularly take water samples to analyze key factors such as nutrient levels, pH, salinity, and heavy metals. Continuous monitoring with sensors and real-time data logging helps detect any fluctuations, allowing for timely adjustments to maintain the best conditions for different seaweed varieties, thereby maximizing growth and yield.

Diverse Farming Methods

At our farms, a diverse range of farming methods is employed, carefully tailored to each location’s unique characteristics and our farmers’ preferences. This strategic approach ensures optimal efficiency and compatibility with various ecosystems.

Key farming methods include:

Long Line : Deep Water: Ideal for deeper waters, this method suspends lines at depth to cultivate seaweed, offering advantages in nutrient availability and water flow.
Cages : Employed where containment is crucial, this method protects seaweed from external factors, allowing controlled cultivation.
Long Line : Shallow Water: Suited for shallower waters, this method involves horizontally suspending lines closer to the water's surface or even on top of the sand, advantageous where deep-water cultivation may not be practical.
Tubular Nets: Beneficial for areas with strong currents, this method provides a controlled environment, optimizing seaweed growth.
Rafts: Deployed for versatility, allowing farming in various water depths, this method is advantageous in areas where adaptability to changing water conditions is crucial.

Each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, with the choice depending on the specific characteristics of the location, considering factors such as water depth, nutrient levels, and water flow. This customized approach ensures the maximization of each farming method’s potential while mitigating challenges associated with unique conditions.

Seaweed Growing Cycle

Our growing cycle spans approximately 45 days, with day 1 dedicated to propagation, followed by 45 days of growth and maintenance, and concluding with one day of harvest. This meticulous rotation ensures a continuous presence of seaweed in the water. Upon attaching seedlings, about 150g of material is used, which, under optimal conditions, can grow up to an impressive 1500g.

We prioritize the manual harvesting of seaweed, employing small boats for precision. After harvesting, the next round kicks off by cutting new material from the seaweed and tying it back onto the lines for another growing cycle. Following this, we initiate a crucial drying process, enabling us to transport the seaweed to our factory, typically by boat or truck. Drying holds significance as it maintains the seaweed’s quality for an extended period, allowing for the shipment of larger quantities each time, given the reduced moisture content. This approach optimizes both the quality and quantity of the seaweed we harvest.

Empowering Coastal Communities

Seaweed farming serves as a distinctive opportunity to empower coastal communities, fostering harmonious collaboration between men and women. Both genders contribute to a successful harvest, with responsibilities allocated for maximum efficiency. Women play a pivotal role in the initial stages, focusing on tasks such as material preparation, seedling care, and ensuring even distribution along the lines. Remarkably, around 80% of our farmers are women, reflecting an empowering and inclusive dynamic.

Conversely, men take charge of planting seaweed, utilizing boats, or securing lines in shallower waters. Daily maintenance duties are equally shared, involving tasks such as keeping the seaweed clean and managing potential threats from grazers. After the 45-day growth period, men lead the harvesting phase, typically utilizing boats. Post-harvest, the entire team collaborates to remove mature seaweed, initiate the drying process, and prepare for the next harvest. This collaborative approach not only ensures a successful harvest but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and achievement within the community. This collaborative shift has led to positive changes in coastal communities, evidenced by reduced poverty, decreased domestic abuse, and enhanced equal rights within families. More families are now able to send their children to school, contributing to increased welfare and prosperity.

At RKN we work to provide all farmers from a fair wage and do not try to push prices down. This is also why we prefer to have a close relationship with the farmers, to not having to rely on traders which will press the farmers to sell cheaper to make a higher profit themselves. By maintaining direct connections with farmers, we shorten the supply chain, resulting in unparalleled traceability of our seaweed products.

Challanges and our approach

RKN’s primary objective is to achieve self-sufficiency in seaweed production, allowing comprehensive control over quality and output, even amid policy changes and heightened competition. The key lies in meticulous oversight of the farming process, ensuring a constant supply of raw materials. Our commitment extends to fostering proper and sustainable farming practices through the use of appropriate techniques and materials. To achieve this, we actively engage in educating farmers on environmentally responsible practices for both the ecosystem and seaweed cultivation.

Beyond farming practices, our dedication to sustainability takes the form of initiatives such as beach cleanups. These not only contribute to environmental conservation but also educate farmers about the dangers of plastic. We provide alternatives to single-use plastics and encourage farming practices that minimize disturbances to the marine environment. Seaweed farming serves as a viable alternative income source for coastal communities, alleviating the pressures of overfishing.

Indonesia faces challenges related to fishing practices due to inadequate enforcement of sustainable techniques, with dynamite fishing posing a significant threat to coral reefs. Collaborating with the Ministry of Fisheries, we have established task forces within Komodo National Park, working alongside dive shops to report and combat illegal fishing activities. By scaling up seaweed farming operations, we contribute to reducing dependence on traditional fishing methods, subsequently mitigating the environmental impact. This transition aligns seamlessly with the skills of many fishermen, making it a feasible and positive change in their livelihoods.

Our multifaceted approach not only ensures the sustainability of our operations but also actively contributes to environmental conservation and the well-being of coastal communities. We are also actively engaged in another impactful initiative aimed at supporting coastal communities: the promotion and sale of their traditional handwoven fabrics known as Tenun Ikat. This initiative not only empowers the women within these communities by providing an additional source of income but also plays an integral role in preserving and celebrating their cultural heritage.