Post #79: Venture Spotlight - Ikanesia Nusantara Akuamarin

At its core, Ikanesia is a feed company for the Blue Economy. Their model combines insect-based feed production, digital supply chain tools, and community-led pilots that tackle environmental impact and local livelihoods in parallel. From custom pet fish feed services to low-carbon barter programmes that link farmers with school nutrition schemes, their approach is both circular and grounded in market demand.

The team is now actively seeking funding to scale fish waste processing in Belitung, alongside strategic partnerships with aquaculture operators, pet food companies, and environmental restoration groups. With the right support, they’re aiming to expand their pilot projects to other coastal regions across Southeast Asia.

If they continue their current trajectory, Ikanesia could become a leading case study in how blue economy ventures can deliver measurable social and environmental outcomes while building a scalable business model.

Enjoy the spotlight!

The Problem

Despite its potential, aquaculture in Indonesia is still shaped by outdated systems that limit both environmental sustainability and farmer livelihoods.

At the root of this are a few interconnected issues:

1. Unsustainable Feed Practices

• Most conventional fish feed is chemical-based and relies on imported raw materials like fishmeal or soy.

• These are expensive, carbon-intensive, and can harm water quality and fish health.

• Over time, this reduces both the profitability for farmers and the nutritional value for consumers.

2. Barriers for Smallholder Farmers

• Small-scale fish farmers often operate on tight margins with little bargaining power.

• Many lack access to affordable, locally made feed that meets quality standards.

• They are vulnerable to middlemen, price fluctuations, and limited distribution channels.

3. Fragmented Supply Chains

• There’s little coordination between feed producers, farmers, processors, and end users.

• Fish waste from production is rarely collected, processed, or turned into value-added products.

• Digital integration across the supply chain is minimal, leaving most decisions based on guesswork rather than data.

4. Missed Opportunities for Nutrition & Community Development

• In many coastal areas, malnutrition among children and women persists, even in fish-producing regions.

• There are few systems in place to link local aquaculture to public nutrition programmes or school meals.

• At the same time, women and youth are often excluded from aquaculture-related income opportunities.

In short, aquaculture remains siloed: feed is disconnected from community nutrition; farmers are isolated from markets; and environmental impact is often an afterthought.

The result is a system that could, but doesn’t yet, work for people and planet.

The Solution

Ikanesia is tackling these issues by rethinking aquaculture as a system, not just a product. Their approach blends environmentally friendly innovation, circular economy practices, and grassroots empowerment.

Here’s how:

1. Insect-Based Fish Feed

• Ikanesia produces high-protein, pelletised fish feed using local insect raw materials, drastically reducing reliance on fishmeal and imported ingredients.

• Their feed is available for a wide range of fish: koi, goldfish, predator species, and small fish.

• They report it cutting the carbon footprint of feed by 26%, without sacrificing quality or price accessibility.

2. Custom Pet Feed Services (Makloon)

• For businesses in the pet feed space, Ikanesia offers a fully managed service from formulation to production, ideal for new entrants or niche brands.

• This creates a B2B revenue stream while showcasing the versatility of insect-based feed beyond aquaculture.

3. Digital Supply Chain Tools

• Their platform helps a range of stakeholders, from small farmers to government bodies, access data, logistics, and supply tracking tools.

• This helps improve efficiency, pricing transparency, and farmer decision-making.

4. Community-Led Pilots (Bekasi Project)

• In Kebalen, Bekasi Regency, Ikanesia runs a circular pilot project with:

• Low-carbon feed exchanged for a portion of the harvest.

• The harvested milkfish is processed into “presto milkfish.”

• 70% is sold at low cost; 30% is distributed to schools and undernourished children.

• It’s a practical model that links environmental goals with nutrition access and economic inclusion.

5. Early Traction (disclosed numbers)

• 70,000+ feed products sold

• 100+ fish farmers supported

• 25,000+ fish hobbyists engaged through direct sales and resellers

• A growing network of 10+ national resellers and 35+ insect suppliers

By aligning sustainable aquaculture with local development goals, Ikanesia is showing what it means to build a circular and inclusive blue economy.

The Team & Partnerships

Core Team

• Farhan Yusron – Founder & CEO - Leads strategy, vision, and growth with a focus on innovation and circular systems.

• Ibnu Hasanudin – Co-founder & COO - Oversees operations and implementation of field programmes.

• Moh. Widi Anugrah – Co-founder & CPO - Drives product development and technology integration across Ikanesia’s feed and digital offerings.

• Rizka Amalia – Co-founder & CFO - Leads finance, fundraising, and business modelling to support long-term scalability.

Key Partnerships

Ikanesia is already collaborating with a wide range of ecosystem actors to scale its impact:

• Yayasan BUMN – Supporting local development through public-private alignment.

• ANGIN (Angel Investment Network Indonesia) – Helping connect Ikanesia to funding and strategic partners.

• Berikan Protein Initiative – Facilitating milkfish distribution for youth nutrition.

• State University of Jakarta (UNJ) – Academic partner supporting research and community outreach.

They’ve also built a grassroots delivery model with:

• 35+ insect collectors and suppliers feeding into their production cycle.

• 10+ national resellers helping distribute feed to farmers and hobbyists across Indonesia.

Asks & Future Possibilities

As Ikanesia looks ahead, the team is actively seeking aligned partners, supporters, and investors to help bring their next phase to life.

Funding

• Primary ask: Capital to scale fish waste production in Belitung, enabling the development of upcycled products and expanding their circular feed ecosystem.

Strategic Partnerships

• Aquaculture operators interested in piloting or distributing insect-based feed.

• Environmental restoration groups exploring nature-based aquaculture solutions.

• Pet food companies keen to develop custom, sustainable formulations through Ikanesia’s makloon model.

Pilot Opportunities

• Open to launching new pilots in other coastal regions across Indonesia or Southeast Asia.

• Ideal contexts include communities focused on youth nutrition, coastal resilience, or livelihood diversification.

With a strong foundation already in place, Ikanesia is now ready to scale and they’re looking for collaborators who share their vision of a socially and environmentally friendly aquaculture future.

Closing Remarks

Ikanesia is a solid example of what blue economy innovation can look like when environmental and social outcomes are baked into a commercially viable model from day one.

If their reported numbers hold, 70,000+ products sold, 100+ farmers supported, and a 26% reduction in feed-related carbon emissions, then they’re not only gaining traction, but they’re also building a compelling case study for sustainable aquaculture in Indonesia and beyond.

What’s most notable is the integration: insect-based feed, community-led pilots, and a digital supply chain all working together in a way that’s scalable and grounded in local realities. It’s rare to see that balance between circular innovation and business fundamentals this early on.

If you’re working in aquaculture, blue food systems, or looking for models of inclusive coastal development, Ikanesia’s one to watch, and one to learn from, get in touch!

--

Henry

OTI