Soil Health in Indonesia has reached a crisis point, crop yields are decreasing and agricultural costs are increasing, excessive input of toxic chemicals into the soil including excessive use of pesticides & herbicides on crops is linked to the current human health crisis in Indonesia including stunting, chronic inflammatory diseases, diabetes and obesity.

For the past 2 years, PT Regenerasi Kehidupan Nusantara (RKN) has innovated a low-cost boutique production of tropical SEAWEED-based Biofertilizer & BioChar. RKN has proven  the effectiveness of the products which connect the livelihoods of maritime seaweed farmers with land-based agribusiness farmers to not only answer the above challenges but also to increase national food security plus provide a blue carbon storage solution.

RKN has conducted 133 field trials since mid-2021 in Southeast Sulawesi, Bali and West Java. Rice field trials were carried out under the supervision of Agriculture Service extension staff in 6 villages in Southeast Sulawesi and in 10 Subaks in Tabanan, Bali, involving 138 individual farmers including a 2 hectare trial in Karawang West Java . Observations were collected, results were measured and impacts were calculated, this is what we identified.

Impact through harvest data reveals the differences between Conventional Agriculture vs Regenerative Agriculture

• Farmers who use government subsidized chemical fertilizers have an average volume of 4 tonnes/ha
• Farmers who use REGEN Biological Fertilizer average 5.1 tons/Ha, increasing volume by 28%
• Farmers who use chemicals produce yields (after rice milling) of an average of 50%.
• Farmers using REGEN produce an average yield of 63% indicating a 26% increase in post-harvest value

Impact on Agricultural Operating Costs - Conventional Farming vs Regenerative Farming

• The average cost of using government subsidized chemical fertilizer is IDR. 12,505,000,-/Ha
• The average cost of using non-subsidized chemical fertilizer is IDR. 17,125,000,-/Ha
• The average cost of using REGEN Biological Fertilizer is IDR. 13,450,000,-/Ha
• REGEN farming costs 8% more expensive than government subsidized farming
• REGEN farming costs are 21% cheaper than Non-Subsidized farming

Impact on Farmers' Daily Income based on the average volume of all farmers is 4 tonnes/Ha

• Farmers who use government chemical fertilizer subsidies earn an average of IDR 62,458/day (planting – harvest period 120 days)
• Farmers who use non-subsidized chemicals have an average income of IDR 23,958/day (planting-harvest period 120 days)
• Farmers who only use REGEN biofertilizer have an average income of IDR 103,583/day (planting-harvest period 120 days)
• REGEN farmers gain a 66% increase in daily income compared to government subsidized farmers
• REGEN farmers gain a 332% increase in daily income compared to non-subsidized farmers

Impact on the quality of crop nutrition, added value to farmers
REGEN trial using Ciherang, Mekkonga, Mansur & Impari 32 identified Lab-produced varieties

• Low to zero sugar content indicates a low glycemic index value
• Enriched minerals include 8% Zinc content per 100gms
• Complex carbohydrates increase
• Increased protein
• Harvested dry grain is 20% more expensive than conventional dry grain
• The selling price of rice has a higher added value
• Premium rice grain yield reaches 95%

Impact on Seaweed Farmers
During the trial period, RKN purchased 45 tons of wet raw seaweed, which was enough to process Biofertilizer to support 6,700ha of rice cultivation, only 0.00063% of the total rice fields in Indonesia.

• RKN purchased 45 tons of raw wet seaweed @ IDR 5,000/kg worth IDR 225,000,000 from seaweed farmers
• Seaweed farmers generally sell their products in dry weight @ IDR 18,000/kg (K.A.38%)
• 45 tons of raw wet seaweed = 5,625kg dry weight produces a value of IDR 101,250,000 to seaweed farmers
• REGEN seaweed farmers receive a 55% increase in value for less work than selling dry weight
• 1 x 18 farmer groups who sell seaweed harvested by dry weight receive IDR 5,625,000/person/harvest (30-45 days) excluding drying costs around 3-4 days
• 1 x 18 farmer groups who sell raw wet seaweed to RKN receive IDR 12,500,000/person/harvest (30-45 days) directly

Ecosystem impact during one 120 day rice planting cycle with SEAWEED-based REGEN products

• REGEN products increase or stabilize pH
• Increase soil fertility
• Increase water retention
• Increase organic carbon storage
• Improve soil microbiology
• Reduce insect threat
• Increase aquatic biota
• Increase plant resistance to abiotic stress

The REGEN brand seaweed based Biofertilizer products, clearly improve soil health, soil health informs human health and directly improves farmer livelihoods.