Kementan says tobacco nicotine limits need 30-year transition

Kementerian Pertanian said limits on nicotine levels in tobacco cannot be imposed quickly because research on low-nicotine varieties for Indonesia’s tropical land is expected to take up to 30 years. Yudi Wahyudi, head of the Seasonal Crops Group at the Directorate of Seasonal Crops, said that without a transition period that long, the local industry could be hit before suitable seeds are developed. He said nicotine levels in local tobacco such as Kemloko in Temanggung and Mole in West Java generally range from 3-8 percent. According to Yudi, lowering nicotine to below 1 percent can be pursued through conventional crossbreeding, CRISPR gene editing, and changes in cultivation techniques. However, the results may not fit every region because they are heavily influenced by soil, climate, and the economic value farmers see. BRIN was cited as one of the institutions needed for the research.