A Group of Researchers of IPB Utilized Lindur Fruit As Materials for Analog Rice
Rice supply has become a major problem in Indonesia particularly in the last two decades when self-sufficiency is unable to be maintained. Indonesian rice consumption was about 139.5 kg/person/year, higher than the average world level of 60 kg/person/year, and about 12% of household budget is shared by the staple food mainly rice. To reduce rice consumption, faculty member of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) utilized lindur fruit (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Lamk.) as an analog rice making material by combining it with sago and chitosan. Analog rice is a product imitation of rice made from non paddy carbohydrate source, which contains approaching or exceeding carbohydrate content of rice. Analog rice is rice that is produced not by planted in rice fields, but produced in the factory by processing from existing food ingredients. Rice analog can be made from materials such as or cafeteria cassava, sago, daluga tubers, sorghum, etc. The quality of analog rice is expected to resemble or exceed the rice in general.
This innovation was one of four works of Prof. Dr. Ir. Nurjanah, MS, one of the Professor chair holders of the Department of Aquatic Product Technology, of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, of Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB), which was selected among the four out of 109 Indonesian innovations in 2017 announced by BIC (Business Innovation Center) on 09 August 2017,
Analog rice made of lindur flour combined with sago and chitosan is an innovation made by Prof Nurjanah with her two research partners, namely Taufik Hidayat and Pipih Suptijah. Lindur fruit (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Lamk.) has opportunities to be explored as an alternative food because it contains high carbohydrate that can be processed into flour. Lindur fruits contain antinutrient, namely tannin and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which should be reduced its concentration first before processing to be safe for consumption. This plant is a very useful plant for the community, especially in coastal areas. Indonesia is home to the largest tracts of mangrove forests on earth.
"With Indonesia’s rice consumption higher than its regional neighbours, the government says it will be making efforts to reduce dependency on rice by promoting other sources of carbohydrates. One of the efforts to avoid rice dependency is the diversification of Indonesian food by using local carbohydrate sources as food products such as analog rice. Analog rice is expected to reduce the dependency on consuming rice in Indonesia. We utilized lindur fruit as it contains high carbohydrate, and Indonesia is home to the largest tracts of mangrove forests on earth," he explained. .
Research partner Prof. Nurjanah, Taufiq Hidayat revealed that "This analog rice is functional food with low glycemic index. As functional analog rice with a low glycemic index (GI) and antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anti-proliferative effects against cancer cells, and chemo-preventive activities." Although the food diversification program was initiated in 1974, expectations have not yet been met. Various options are available, one of which is providing more diverse carbohydrate-based products which are easy to prepare and consume. The combination of lindur fruit with sago is another attempt to use local food sources as an integral part of efforts to strengthen national food security through self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. In addition, Prof. Nurjanah also uses chitosan as a binder and stabilizer.
"Chitosan is made by treating the chitin shells of shrimp and other crustaceans with an alkaline substance, like sodium hydroxide. It has the same properties as synthesis texture materials that improves the appearance and texture of a product because it has a strong water-holding and oil-strong and heat-resistant oil," he added.
From the results of research Prof. Nurjanah and two colleagues, found that lindur flour can be utilized as alternative substitution of wheat because it contains a high carbohydrate, 86.10 percent. While the best analog rice formulation is a combination of 70 percent flour lindur, 30 percent sago flour, and chitosan 0.5 percent. (Wied)
