Potato productivity in Indonesia remains far below its potential, despite rising demand. One key issue is the limited availability and quality of seed potatoes, according to Meksy Dianawati, a senior researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Traditional seed production—involving tissue culture and multi-stage greenhouse cultivation—takes over two years and requires significant investment.
To overcome this, BRIN has turned to aeroponics, a soilless cultivation system where plant roots are misted with nutrient-rich water. This method enhances oxygen exposure, nutrient absorption, and vegetative growth, leading to yields 10 times higher than conventional methods.
Why Aeroponics Works
Aeroponics optimizes plant growth by:
- Higher oxygen availability, improving root health.
- Precise nutrient control, ensuring balanced plant development.
- Faster production cycles, allowing direct transition from G0 to G2 seeds.
However, the system demands high investment in infrastructure (greenhouses, pumps, climate control) and skilled labor to manage nutrient solutions, machinery, and plant physiology.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite its advantages, aeroponics faces hurdles:
- Bacterial wilt—Nutrient recirculation can spread contamination.
- High operational costs—Electricity, water, and maintenance add up.
- Climate sensitivity—High temperatures (up to 40°C) disrupt growth.
BRIN’s research team has tackled bacterial wilt using antagonistic microbes (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis), as published in the Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research. Future efforts will focus on tuber induction and IoT-based automation to enhance efficiency.
The Future of Aeroponics in Indonesia
While aeroponics has been adopted by some commercial seed producers and research institutions, inconsistent results—such as declining yields over time—have led to failures. BRIN’s innovations aim to stabilize production, with trials in Pangalengan testing IoT integration by 2025.
Aeroponics presents a transformative opportunity for potato seed production, offering higher yields, faster cycles, and better-quality seeds. However, success depends on overcoming cost barriers, improving disease resistance, and advancing automation. With continued research, this technology could bridge Indonesia’s potato production gap—and serve as a model for other countries.
