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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 202571Analysis of Red Seaweed Gracilaria as an Alternative Source of Primary Metabolites for Food Sustainability in Tesabela, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, IndonesiaMarcelien Dj Ratoe Oedjoe*, Ade Y. H. Lukas, Sine G Kiik and Immaria Fransira1Aquaculture Department, Nusa Cendana University, Kupang, Indonesia*Corresponding author: lien@staf.undana.ac.idAbstractThe increasing urgency of global food security demands the exploration of sustainable, nutrient-rich alternative resources. Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta), known for their high content of primary metabolites%u2014carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids%u2014represent a promising candidate in this context. This study investigates the metabolite composition of two red seaweed species, Gracilaria gracilis and Gracilaria salicornia, through species identification, proximate analysis, and a targeted literature review on nutritional applications. Results indicate that G. gracilis contains 72.41% carbohydrates, 5.74% protein, and 12.2% fat, while G. salicornia presents 70.62% carbohydrates, 4.76% protein, and 8% fat. Both species also exhibit low ash and moisture content. In addition to their nutritional profile, red seaweeds offer advantages in terms of rapid cultivation (45-day cycles), minimal resource input, and low environmental impact. These findings highlight red seaweeds as viable candidates for integration into sustainable food systems.Keywords: red seaweed, primary metabolites, Gracilaria gracilis, Gracilaria salicornia, sustainable food resources