Evaluating the interrelated impacts of commodity agriculture, market access, and forest conservation on food security in tropical landscape
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Greenwich
Department Name: Natural Resources Institute, FES
Abstract
There are multiple interrelated pathways by which livelihoods and food security may respond to tropical land use changes, including interactions between agricultural expansion, market integration, and conservation policies. Despite numerous studies evaluating the impact of forest conservation programmes on livelihoods, recognition of the role of market access to poverty alleviation, and the social and environmental consequences of commodity agriculture development in the tropics, the implication of these three land use policies on livelihoods and food security is rarely appraised collectively. In addition, multidimensional aspects of food security and external factors associated with various conservation schemes (protected area compared to community-based land management) and agricultural production models (monoculture plantations compared to polyculture and agroforestry smallholdings) are not frequently evaluated.
This project seeks to address this issue by analysing the interrelated impacts of various forest conservation scheme and agricultural production model on food security and how this interacts with access to markets. Food security is measured via multidimensional indicators. Using data from the culturally and biologically diverse country of Indonesia, the project will offer novel insights and recommendations on the appropriate distribution and size of lands allocated to commodity agriculture and conservation in tropical landscapes, given market accessibility, land productivity, and socio-governance contexts, in order to achieve more equitable livelihood and food security outcomes.
Key products of this project will include:
(1) Peer-reviewed publications: (i) analysing the expansion of commodity agriculture and forest conservation in Indonesia and how they relate to change in market accessibility, land productivity, land governance, and socio-demographic features, and (ii) evaluating the interrelated impacts of forest protection and commodity agriculture on multi-dimensional food security, and how this varies by market accessibility;
(2) New data linkages of the change in the distribution of multiple agricultural systems and forest conservation initiatives at a district level between 2000 and 2020 across five major Indonesian islands, and the associated changes in biophysical and socioeconomic conditions.
(3) Training and capacity building on land use change and food security analysis at universities in Indonesia.
(4) A policy brief with an infographic outlining research findings to inform policy discussions on improved land use planning.
(5) An online mapping platform that allows users to visualize the change in the distribution of multiple agricultural systems, forest conservation initiatives, and market access indicators through time across Indonesia to inform sustainable development planning.
This project seeks to address this issue by analysing the interrelated impacts of various forest conservation scheme and agricultural production model on food security and how this interacts with access to markets. Food security is measured via multidimensional indicators. Using data from the culturally and biologically diverse country of Indonesia, the project will offer novel insights and recommendations on the appropriate distribution and size of lands allocated to commodity agriculture and conservation in tropical landscapes, given market accessibility, land productivity, and socio-governance contexts, in order to achieve more equitable livelihood and food security outcomes.
Key products of this project will include:
(1) Peer-reviewed publications: (i) analysing the expansion of commodity agriculture and forest conservation in Indonesia and how they relate to change in market accessibility, land productivity, land governance, and socio-demographic features, and (ii) evaluating the interrelated impacts of forest protection and commodity agriculture on multi-dimensional food security, and how this varies by market accessibility;
(2) New data linkages of the change in the distribution of multiple agricultural systems and forest conservation initiatives at a district level between 2000 and 2020 across five major Indonesian islands, and the associated changes in biophysical and socioeconomic conditions.
(3) Training and capacity building on land use change and food security analysis at universities in Indonesia.
(4) A policy brief with an infographic outlining research findings to inform policy discussions on improved land use planning.
(5) An online mapping platform that allows users to visualize the change in the distribution of multiple agricultural systems, forest conservation initiatives, and market access indicators through time across Indonesia to inform sustainable development planning.
Organisations
- University of Greenwich (Lead Research Organisation)
- BBSRC (Co-funder)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Co-funder)
- University of Hawai'i at Manoa (Collaboration)
- Ministry of Research and Technology / National Research and Innovation Agency (Collaboration)
- State University of Papua (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Hasanuddin University (Collaboration)
| Description | Advisory committee on Short and Medium-Term Regional Development Plans |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Catalyse new research topics for investigation by postgraduate students and early-career researchers |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Postgraduate students and early-career researchers at Hasanuddin University are investigating eight research topics across Indonesia. Two manuscripts, focusing on discourse and policy analysis of crop booms in Gorontalo and the pepper boom within mining concessions in Southeast Sulawesi, are nearing completion for peer review. |
| Description | Integrating newly developed land use and crop maps into university educational resources |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Title | Dataset on the dimensions of sustainable food security and the dynamics of crop production in Indonesia |
| Description | This research dataset provides essential data on sustainable food security dimensions and crop production in Indonesia. It comprises three primary datasets: 1. Agriculture and Crop Data: A comprehensive collection of agricultural livelihood data across Indonesia, gathered at five-year intervals from 2000 to 2020, encompassing Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. 2. Socio-Ecological Data: Granular village-level socio-ecological insights for Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, providing a nuanced perspective on local environmental and social factors. 3. Village Boundary Dataset: Geospatial boundary polygons delineating village borders within Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, derived from 2020 data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These datasets have catalysed further research across Indonesia, coordinated by the partner institute at Hasanuddin University. The research examines the complex regional dynamics of land use change, food security, forest conservation, and land use policy. This work not only validates the map but also offers a nuanced perspective on critical socio-environmental transformations related to land use change at the regional and local levels. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14954714 |
| Description | Collaboration between the University of Greenwich and National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) |
| Organisation | Ministry of Research and Technology / National Research and Innovation Agency |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The University of Greenwich team offers expertise in spatial analysis, land use change, environmental planning, and food system, while also helping in bridging international knowledge with national insights. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at BRIN (from the Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology and the Research Centre for Estate Crops) provides valuable insights into issues related to agricultural development and environmental conservation in Indonesia. |
| Impact | * Two research papers have been submitted for peer review. (Multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, livelihoods, resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology, ecology). * The UoG team made several visits to the BRIN office to discuss ongoing and potential projects related to climate change, the environment, and food security. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration between the University of Greenwich and University of Hawai'i |
| Organisation | University of Hawai'i at Manoa |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The University of Greenwich team offers expertise in spatial analysis, land use change, and environmental planning. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at the East-West Center, University of Hawai'i, offers specialized expertise in human geography and land use policy, with a focus on tropical ecosystems. |
| Impact | A research paper has been submitted for peer review. (Multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, livelihoods, resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology, ecology) |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration between the University of Greenwich, Hasanuddin University, and the University of Papua |
| Organisation | Hasanuddin University |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The University of Greenwich team brings expertise in spatial planning, geography, and food systems while also providing project oversight. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners at Hasanuddin University and the University of Papua provide critical expertise in forest governance, land use policy, and human ecology. Their insights are especially valuable in the context of Indonesia, particularly in its eastern regions, where research has historically been limited. |
| Impact | * In September 2024, the Hasanuddin University team hosted a stakeholder workshop, bringing together experts from academia, government, NGOs, and farmer groups across Indonesia. The workshop provided valuable insights from practitioners and policymakers across the agriculture and forestry sectors, addressing the complex challenges of land use change and its social, economic, and environmental implications. (Transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, agricultural economics (estate and food crops), resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology). * Two research papers have been submitted for peer review, while two additional working papers are currently under development. (Multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, livelihoods, resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology, ecology) |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration between the University of Greenwich, Hasanuddin University, and the University of Papua |
| Organisation | State University of Papua |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The University of Greenwich team brings expertise in spatial planning, geography, and food systems while also providing project oversight. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners at Hasanuddin University and the University of Papua provide critical expertise in forest governance, land use policy, and human ecology. Their insights are especially valuable in the context of Indonesia, particularly in its eastern regions, where research has historically been limited. |
| Impact | * In September 2024, the Hasanuddin University team hosted a stakeholder workshop, bringing together experts from academia, government, NGOs, and farmer groups across Indonesia. The workshop provided valuable insights from practitioners and policymakers across the agriculture and forestry sectors, addressing the complex challenges of land use change and its social, economic, and environmental implications. (Transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, agricultural economics (estate and food crops), resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology). * Two research papers have been submitted for peer review, while two additional working papers are currently under development. (Multidisciplinary: forestry, environmental science, livelihoods, resource economics, spatial planning, human ecology, ecology) |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | A collaborative meeting between project partners from the University of Papua and Konservasi Indonesia to enhance food security initiatives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A collaborative meeting was held between the University of Papua and Konservasi Indonesia, a national foundation dedicated to sustainable ecosystem development and protection in Indonesia, to advance food security initiatives in South Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua. The discussion focused on mapping local food resources and exploring opportunities to enhance food governance by integrating indigenous knowledge and local wisdom to promote sustainable practices. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | A collaborative meeting between the University of Papua and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) aimed at advancing research on critical food security issues |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In 2024, two meetings were held between the University of Papua and the Ecological Research Group of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The discussions focused on addressing challenges in Papua's food policy and exploring local opportunities to strengthen regional food security. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | A workshop engaging land use stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, practitioners from NGOs, government officials, and academics, across different regions of Indonesia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A three-day workshop was held in September 2024 to bring together participants with direct experience and diverse academic backgrounds, fostering a comprehensive and accurate analysis of the dynamics of agriculture and conservation policies in Indonesia. The workshop focused on exploring the historical expansion of agriculture and plantations, the evolution of forest conservation efforts, and their connections to market access and food security. It aimed to create a critical platform for examining social-ecological patterns, while promoting participation from a range of stakeholders across various Indonesian regions and enhancing understanding of key issues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Working group and research accelerator program on land use, crop production dynamics, and human wellbeing, overseen by project partners from the University of Hasanuddin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The workshop has catalysed the formation of a formal working group within the Forest and Society Research Group at Hasanuddin University. This group unites postgraduate students from across Indonesia, with a specific emphasis on the central and eastern regions, where research has historically been limited. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Working group between University of Papua and the Research Centre of Ecology and Ethnobiology under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A collaborative working group has been established between the University of Papua and the Research Centre of Ecology and Ethnobiology under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The partnership is centered on advancing joint research efforts in food security, mapping biophysical and ecological potential, assessing current food conditions, and evaluating food policies under development in Papua. The outcomes of these discussions provide critical insights that will inform UNIPA's Faculty of Forestry and related research teams in the preparation of activity proposals, which will be submitted at both regional and national levels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |