Bioprospecting brown algae (Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh) as a potential antioxidant additive in snack bar and its sensory evaluation

Fucoxanthin from brown algae has potential as a promising functional food component. However, fucoxanthin is less stable under high temperature and light exposure. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of stevia and cacao butter in increasing the stability of Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh extract containing fucoxanthin and its application as a snack bar. Brown algae, S. polycystum, was extracted using 96% foodgrade ethanol. Antioxidant activity and stability assay were performed using the 2,2- Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Antioxidant activity of both, extract (E) and extract + stevia (ES), was found to decrease with time. Meanwhile, cacao butter was able to maintain extract’s stability without any significant difference when compared to extract alone. A combination of extract, stevia, and cacao butter (ESC) were found to be able to maintain antioxidant stability. Formulation of a snack bar with cacao butter and 1% stevia were more preferred by the panellists when compared to the other formulations. This study reports that cacao butter and 1% stevia is able to maintain antioxidant stability and improve the economic value of S. polycystum, one of them through the formulations of the snack bar.

The Practice of Co-Production through Biocultural Design: A Case Study among the Bribri People of Costa Rica and Panama

Research in co-production has given rise to a rich scientific literature in sustainability science. The processes by which co-production occurs are not well documented. Here, I present my work with the Bribri people to undertake a biocultural design project. Biocultural design is a process that begins with understanding participants’ aspirations to support their livelihoods. The process is collaborative, imagining ideas and executing products and services by drawing upon the capabilities of the participant’s biocultural heritage. In the Bribri territory, the biocultural heritage associated with cacao agroforestry systems is considered significant for Bribri livelihoods. Bribri people’s aspirations to grow cacao go beyond increasing cacao yields and include the respect for cultural teachings and social relationships. The participants of this project designed cacao value-added products (e.g., cacao jam, cacao butter) and services (e.g., showcase farm) by identifying viable ways to execute their ideas. Biocultural design offers a guide to co-imagine and co-execute ideas to solve specific problems and contributes to the practice of co-production by offering an approach that recognizes the value of science, while respecting the knowledge, aspirations and values of other actors.

Competitiveness and Determinant of Indonesian Processed Cocoa Demand in the AANZFTA Framework

Indonesia is one of the biggest producer of cacao beans in the world.Export tariff policy on cacao bean and countries trade agreement wasexpected can increase the processed of cacao export. This researchaims to analyze the competitiveness and the determinants of whichaffect the processed cacao export in AANZFTA Region countries.Based on RCA anaylsis, the processed cacao has been comparativeadvantage, and its EPD analysis show that Indonesia’s processedcacao mostly in falling star and retreat condition. The result ofregression analysis panel data showed that the export of cacao pastewas affected significantly by exchange rate, Indonesia’s exportcompetitiveness, and free trade area policy. Cacao butter was affectedsignificantly by exchange rate, Indonesia’s export competitiveness, andfree trade area policy. Cacao powder was affected significantly bygross domestic product total, exchange rate, Indonesia’s exportcompetitiveness, and free trade area policy.

Impact of Non Tariff Measure on Indonesian Cacao Exports

Increased awareness of food safety issues has resulted in non-tariff measure in the form of sanitary and phytosanitary, technical barrier to trade applied to various importing countries. The policy is widely applied by various countries on agricultural commodities, especially Cocoa. Cocoa is Indonesia's flagship commodity exported to many countries. The purpose of this research is to analyze the implementation and impact of non tariff measure on Indonesian cocoa exports. The model used in this research is to estimate the result of inventory approach in gravity model. The results show that Sanitary and Phytosanitary policy has an effect on decreasing export value of Indonesian Cocoa while Technical Barrier to Trade has no significant effect. SPS policy is mostly applied to Cocoa Beans while TBT is more applied to processed cocoa. So, Indonesia needs to improve the processing of cocoa beans such as cacao shells, cacao paste, cacao butter, cacao powder, chocolate and other preparations. The government needs to provide socialization to Indonesian cocoa agribusiness entrepreneurs in the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary policy. Government programs or policies are designed according to the characteristics of SPS and TBT.