The Edible Nest Swiftlet Industry in Southeast Asia: Capitalism Meets Commensalism

Thorburn, Craig Carpenter

doi:10.1007/s10745-014-9713-1

Cited by 34 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Swiftlet farming in Kota Bangun has grown rapidly. The high selling price of swiftlet nests is the main reason in a swiftlet farming business (Thorburn 2015). The average price of raw swiftlet nest at the time of the study was IDR 10 million per kilogram.…”

Section: Swiftlet Farmingmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The type of swiftlets house in this study is single lots of building, with the aim to facilitate supervision and reduce interference from various activities in the vicinity (Rahman et al 2019). Making swiftlet houses that are similar to their natural habitat is something that must be considered, including light intensity, temperature, air circulation and humidity to create a comfortable environment for swiftlets (Looi et al 2016;Thorburn 2015). The swiftlets farmer has never specifically monitored the entry and exit of swiftlets into swiftlet houses (Chua and Zukefli 2016), as well as their diets.…”

Section: Business Model 1 (512 M 2 Swiftlet House)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From ecological perspective, swiftlets serve as biological predators against insects considered pests for cultivated plants. From economic views, swiftlet nests are considered as precious and luxury products, making it highly-priced in global market (Nugroho and Budiman 2013) and often being termed as "the caviar of the East" (Thorburn 2015;Connolly 2016;Looi et al 2016) or "tropical white gold".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecology, productivity and economic of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) farming in Kota Bangun, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

et al. 2020

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Abstract. Mursidah, Lahjie AM, Masjaya, Rayadin Y, Ruslim Y. 2020. The ecology, productivity and economic of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) farming in Kota Bangun, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3117-3126. Swiftlet nest is a high-value non-timber forest product produced from the saliva of swiftlet birds. While the demands for this commodity continue to increase in global market, careless harvesting techniques have diminished the swiftlet population and the production of swiftlet nests, threatening its sustainability. One effort to solve this problem is by developing swiftlet farming which involves building swiftlet. This research aimed to analyze the ecology, productivity, and financial feasibility of swiftlet farming of different-sized swiftlet houses in Kota Bangun Subdistrict, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. This research used qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. Data were collected using purposive sampling to determine the location, sample of swiftlet houses, and interviews with respondents. Quantitative analysis on the financial performance of swiftlet farming was analyzed using the net Benefit-Cost Ratio (net B/C), Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Payback Period (PP) methods. The results showed that swiftlet nest production in Kota Bangun begins in the third year and ends between 27 and 45 years later, depending on the age and size of the house as well as the quality of the timber. The swiftlet house with a size of 512 m2 had the net B/C of 4.06, NPV of IDR 1,403.79 million, IRR of 30%, and PP of 5.44 years. The swiftlet house with a size of 1,600 m2 had the net B/C of 2.27, NPV of IDR 1,774.83 million, IRR of 24.09%, and PP of 9.4 years. Our study suggests that swiftlet farming is financially highly feasible, especially for the swiftlet house with a size of 512 m2.

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Section: Swiftlet Farmingmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Business Model 1 (512 M 2 Swiftlet House)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecology, productivity and economic of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) farming in Kota Bangun, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

et al. 2020

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“…A few species of swiftlets (genus Aerodramus) make nest from their hardened saliva. The edible saliva is a delicacy and is considered as one of the most expensive animal resources that humans consume (Thorburn 2015). The demand for authentic bird's nest soup is mainly because of its perceived health benefits and not solely due to its taste (Marcone 2005).…”

Section: Fauna Of Forest Over Limestonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The demand for authentic bird's nest soup is mainly because of its perceived health benefits and not solely due to its taste (Marcone 2005). According to researchers from China and Japan, the hardened saliva contains sialic acid-also found in human milk-which is thought to play a role in developmental advantages for breastfed infants and possibly beneficial for human health (Oda et al 1998;Thorburn 2015;Wang and Brand-Miller 2003). Other bird species such as the bald-headed bulbul Pycnonotus hualon (Woxvold et al 2009), and the limestone leaf-warbler Phylloscopus calciatilis (Alström et al 2010) have been discovered only recently in Laos and Vietnam.…”

Section: Fauna Of Forest Over Limestonementioning

confidence: 99%

Review: Biodiversity of forests over limestone in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Philippines

et al. 2020

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Abstract. Tolentino PJS, Navidad JRL, Angeles MD, Fernandez AP, Villanueva ELC, Obena RDR, Buot Jr IE. 2020. Review: Biodiversity of forests over limestone in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 1597-1613. A comprehensive review of literature was carried out to determine the status of plant and animal diversity on forests over limestone in Southeast Asia (SEA), particularly in the Philippines. Angiosperm records are available in Peninsular Malaysia (1216 spp.); West Java and Seram Indonesia (101 and 149 spp., respectively); Laos (135 spp.); Thailand and Myanmar (1 sp.); and Limestone areas in Vietnam. Pteridophytes were recorded in Malaysia (32 spp.) while Bryophytes are recorded in Peninsular Malaysia (59 spp.). In the Philippines, there are plant records in: Masbate (61 spp.); Isabela (169 spp. Pteridophytes); Bohol (12 spp.), and Samar forests over limestone (29 spp. palms and 20 spp. orchids). A floral assessment in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) includes species (212 spp.) that can possibly be found but are not limited to karsts. New Philippine endemic species are also recorded in Cebu, Palawan, and Panay Island. There are animal records in SEA including Vietnam (Bats-36, Bird-1, and Langurs-5 spp.); Malaysia (Sciuridae-1, Bats-28, Birds-129, Reptiles-17, and Invertebrates-74 spp.); Thailand (Murids-12, Reptiles-11, and Amphibian-1 sp.); and Myanmar (Reptiles-15 spp.). Records in the Philippines include: Mammals (Bicol-9, Mt. Irid-24, Mt. Aruyan-1, and Cebu-1 species), and; Birds (Cebu-1 sp.). A terrestrial faunal assessment in SINP includes species (182 spp.) that can possibly be found but are not limited to karsts. Forests over limestone are still largely understudied and the potential of discovering species is high. Further research is critical to establish science-based initiatives and policies that will protect and conserve limestone ecosystem biodiversity while allowing the utilization of its biological resources at a sustainable level.

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Calcite Deposits Differentiate Cave from House‐Farmed Edible Bird's Nest as shown by SEM‐EDX, ATR‐FTIR and Raman Microspectroscopy

Shim

Lee

2020

Chemistry An Asian Journal

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The difference between the swiftlet white edible bird's nest from limestone caves versus house‐farmed ones, especially in response to high temperature and stewing time in water where the latter type would disintegrate readily, has been a puzzle for a long time. We show that edible bird's nests from the limestone caves have calcite deposits on the surface of the nest cement as compared to the house‐farmed nests which are built by swiftlets on timber planks. The micron and sub‐micron calcite particles are seen in SEM‐EDX and further characterized by ATR‐FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy. The calcite deposits make it possible for the cave nest to retain a gelatinous texture under the harsh retort conditions at 121 °C for 20 mins in commercial bottling. We show that house‐farmed nests can be soaked in CaCl2(aq) followed by rinsing with Na2CO3(aq) to grow the same calcite deposits on the nest cement with the same characteristic as cave nests. Therefore, there should no longer be a need to harvest cave nests, and we can better conserve the dwindling population and natural habitats of cave swiftlets.

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The Edible Nest Swiftlet Industry in Southeast Asia: Capitalism Meets Commensalism

Cited by 34 publications

References 16 publications

The ecology, productivity and economic of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) farming in Kota Bangun, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The ecology, productivity and economic of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) farming in Kota Bangun, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Review: Biodiversity of forests over limestone in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Philippines

Calcite Deposits Differentiate Cave from House‐Farmed Edible Bird's Nest as shown by SEM‐EDX, ATR‐FTIR and Raman Microspectroscopy

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