Padang, W Sumatra, Sept. 21 -- Andalas University (UNAND) in West Sumatra is aiming to become Indonesia's leading center for research and downstream innovation of gambier, a key export crop widely used in the global tannin and dye industries.

"We are committed to developing a national center of excellence for gambier research," UNAND Rector Efa Yonnedi said during the university's fourth graduation ceremony in Padang on Sunday.

Indonesia supplies 80-90 percent of the world's gambier, with most sourced from Limapuluh Kota and Tanah Datar regencies in West Sumatra. Leveraging this dominant role, UNAND is expanding its research and commercialization efforts.

UNAND researchers have developed several downstream gambier-based products. Notab...