Pioneering plant metabolomic library of Indonesian plants for research, conservation, capacity building and economic development

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Indonesia, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, is undergoing mass deforestation, exacerbating climate change and leading to accelerated loss of species. This project addressed the urgent need to conserve endangered Indonesian biodiversity, specifically the potentially life-saving bioactive compounds harboured within its plants. A group of Indonesian researchers from Universitas Nasional (UNAS) in Jakarta received training in RApid Metabolome Extraction and Storage (RAMES) technology, an ethical, low-impact, field-deployable and cost-effective methodology developed by Rutgers University. The team of Indonesian scientists used this technology to create the first metabolomic library of Indonesian plant species and an easily transportable collection containing 501 metabolome samples from 296 species. This pioneering and readily shareable resource aims to foster collaborative research into plant metabolomics and natural products, reaching across Indonesia and the broader Southeast Asia region. The project also facilitated four formal discussion forums, two of which were international conferences, promoting exchange among Indonesian, Southeast Asian and USA scientists, with notable participation from the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). These efforts culminated in the formation of a strategic partnership among UNAS, BRIN and Rutgers.