The Center of Excellence for Development and Utilization of Seaweeds, Hasanuddin University (CEDUS-UNHAS): Collaborating on Research and Outreach for the SDGs

The Centre of Excellence for Development and Utilization of Seaweed at Universitas Hasanuddin (CEDUS-UNHAS) is the only Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the Indonesian CoE programme that is focused on seaweeds. UNHAS has pioneered seaweed cultivation in South Sulawesi for over two decades, and in 2012, UNHAS formed the Seaweed Research and Development Centre Consortium (KP3RL) with stakeholders from government agencies, other universities, research institutes and the private sector. Focused on seaweed cultivation, including new/improved seaweed varieties and high-quality seeds, the KP3RL strengthened the position of South Sulawesi as the largest producer of seaweeds in Indonesia, contributing approximately one-third of national and 11% of world seaweed production in 2017. In 2018, the KP3RL became CEDUS-UNHAS, partnering with Indonesian and overseas institutions. The vision of the CEDUS-UNHAS is to become a leading centre for seaweed research and development in Indonesia by 2025, aiming to advance and disseminate seaweed science and technology for sustainable development. CEDUS-UNHAS fosters approximately 200 seaweed community groups producing innovative products, with patented inventions related to biosugar, bioethanol, capsules, antiaging cosmetics, high protein seaweed and production technology. Collaboration is a priority for achieving CEDUS-UNHAS objectives, for example, cooperation on seaweed cultivation and utilization of high protein seaweeds as a food for the future, and many other aspects of seaweed-related development, especially through downstream programs.