From Sea to Plantation: Prospects, Agronomic Evidence, Commercial Feasibility, and Industry-Led Adoption of Seaweed-Based Biostimulants in Indonesia’s Oil Palm Sector

Abstract

Indonesia’s oil palm industry faces pressure to increase productivity while improving nutrient-use efficiency, climate resilience and environmental performance. At the same time, Indonesian seaweed aquaculture provides an established coastal bioresource base from which value-added crop inputs might be developed. This qualitative literature review critically examines whether seaweed based plant biostimulants are scientifically credible and commercially viable complements to conventional oil palm fertilisation. Integrating 56 relevant journal publications from 2020-2026, the synthesis examines molecular mechanisms, cross-crop field responses, direct oil palm evidence, nutrient constraints, processing quality, life-cycle impacts and buyer-led commercialisation. Evidence supports biological plausibility and context-dependent effects in several crops; however, mature-palm evidence is insufficient to substantiate consistent increases in fresh fruit bunch yield or general fertiliser replacement claims. Widespread nutrient deficiencies in Indonesian smallholder fields make premature mineral-fertiliser reduction particularly risky. The article proposes a four-arm, multi-site randomised trial distinguishing add-on benefits from reduced-fertiliser effects, supplemented by nutrient monitoring, techno-economic analysis and environmental accounting. It further outlines a stage-gated partnership in which oil palm firms articulate demand and host trials, seaweed businesses develop standardised products, independent researchers evaluate outcomes and neutral facilitating partners coordinate inclusive precompetitive collaboration. A complement first, substitution-only-after-proof approach offers a defensible pathway from blue-economy opportunity to evidence-based plantation procurement.