Banyuwangi — Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) took part in the Panel Discussion entitled "Strengthening Traceability & Indonesia's Shrimp Market: Building Global Trust, Revitalizing the Domestic Market," organized by the Indonesian Aquaculture Synergy Foundation (YSAI) at Hotel Santika Banyuwangi on Tuesday (August 4, 2026).
At the forum, Prof. Dr. Ir. Andi Tamsil, M.S., IPM., Professor at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of UMI and Chairman of Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI), participated as a panelist alongside representatives of the government and the national shrimp industry. During the forum, it was explained that SCI is an organization that brings together Indonesian shrimp farmers, and its members contribute significantly to national production, with an estimated nearly 70 percent of Indonesia's shrimp production coming from SCI members.
In his presentation, Prof. Andi Tamsil emphasized that the future of Indonesia's shrimp industry is determined not only by the ability to produce products but also by the ability to demonstrate product integrity through a traceability system that can be traced from shrimp farms to consumers. He described traceability as an "infrastructure of trust" that serves as the foundation of the competitiveness of Indonesian shrimp in both global and domestic markets.
According to him, the shrimp industry needs to move from the produce and sell paradigm toward produce, prove, protect, and promote. This means that production must be accompanied by data verification, guarantees of food safety and environmental sustainability, as well as efforts to strengthen market reputation.
The panel discussion also featured speakers from the industry, namely Saut Hutagalung from the Indonesian Shrimp Processors and Exporters Association (AP5I) and Denny Mulyono, Chairman of the Indonesian Shrimp Feed Producers Association (GPPUI). Both speakers shared their perspectives on strengthening the supply chain, improving industrial efficiency, and strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia's shrimp exports.
Prof. Andi Tamsil highlighted several challenges facing Indonesia's shrimp industry, including fragmented shrimp farmers, non-uniform production records, long supply chains, weaknesses in the cold chain, disease risks, and limited human resource capacity. Therefore, he encouraged the development of an integrated traceability system covering the entire process, from shrimp seed, pond production, harvesting, processing, distribution, to consumers.
In addition to strengthening the export market, the forum also emphasized the importance of the domestic market as a new engine of growth. The local market is considered a means of diversification, strengthening SMEs and the culinary sector, as well as fostering pride in Indonesian shrimp products.
The event, attended by approximately 75 participants from government institutions, academics, industry associations, shrimp farmers, processing businesses, retailers, and shrimp industry stakeholders, served as a strategic forum to formulate joint initiatives to strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia's shrimp industry through data governance, product traceability, and sustainable market development.
UMI's participation in this national forum demonstrates the University's commitment to supporting the development of a modern, transparent, and sustainable fisheries industry through contributions in knowledge, research, and collaboration with various stakeholders.