13th International Convention of Asia Scholars (28.7-1.8.2024)

Our team has convened a panel session at the International Convention of Asia Scholars ICAS 13 “Crossways of Knowledge – An International Conference-Festival at Surabaya, Indonesia”, held from 28 July to 1 August 2024, in Surabaya, Indonesia. The proposal is presented under Theme 1: Uneven Geographies, Ecologies, Technologies and Human Futures.

The world is navigating a myriad of crises that significantly impact global food security. From the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to ongoing geopolitical shifts, such as the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, the stability of our global food supply chains has been severely tested. At the same time, urgent environmental and ecological challenges have thrust food producers into uncharted territories of adaptation and resilience.

In response to these challenges, major policy changes have emerged on the global stage. In 2023, the European Union enacted anti-deforestation regulations, preventing commodities linked to deforestation, such as palm oil, coffee and cocoa, from being imported to the region (European Union, 2023). Similarly, a new bill under review in the United States, namely The Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade (FOREST) Act of 2021, seeks to outlaw commercial products linked to deforestation such as meat, soy, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and wood pulp. These legislative shifts profoundly affect Asian regions, particularly Indonesia, as pivotal producers of these essential global commodities.

Asia, with a special focus on Indonesia, is a powerhouse in the agricultural domain. A multitude of smallholder farmers in this region are integral contributors to the production of vital global commodities. Faced with a confluence of global crises and new regulatory landscapes, there is a pressing need for innovative, adaptive, and collaborative strategies to safeguard the resilience and sustainability of the region’s food systems.

Our panel, entitled “Seeds of change: Revitalizing Asian Region Food Security Through Multi-Stakeholder Bargaining and Initiatives” speaks to enhance understanding of multifaceted strategies and policy responses unfolding in Asian regions, with a nuanced emphasis on Indonesia. Policy responses should encompass whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, be country-led, and be inclusive of farmers, consumers, civil society, business, and the most affected (UN General Assembly HLE, 2022). We therefore aim to unveil how various stakeholders, including governments, producers, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and consumers, navigate the complexities of the current global scenario. Our focus also extends to the dynamic interplay between policies and practical approaches that are shaping the future narratives of food security in the region.

PI Erja Kettunen presented “The palm oil debate: European NGOs as stakeholders in the policy dialogue”. The study explores the dialogue on palm oil focusing on the views voiced by European NGOs in the media and other public outlets. The dialogue is understood as a process of negotiation, or bargaining, on the different aspects and impacts of oil palm farming. Drawing on information from stakeholder interviews, publications and online news archives, our tentative findings indicate the diverse arguments on the impacts of oil palm farming. Recent opinions voiced by European NGOs focus on pushing strongly for the EU deforestation regulation, whereas a number of international NGOs push for the improvement of palm oil sustainability standards. Since these are expected to have significant impacts of Indonesian as well as Malaysian exports, the issue is currently being negotiated in a joint task force by Indonesia, Malaysia and the EU, to reach a solution acceptable to all.

Public debate in Europe has raised concerns about the effects of oil palm monoculture farming in Indonesia mainly due to deforestation and biodiversity loss. The European non-governmental organizations (NGO) also disseminate information on social problems that arise from violations of human rights and indigenous land rights, and the dangers both to local communities and to global climate crisis. Adiputri therefore, explores the policy dialogue on palm oil focusing on the views of the Indonesian government and NGOs towards the European policies and Western public outlets. It identifies the actors and NGOs institutions involved in the bargaining dialogue between Indonesia and Europe and how the differences in perspectives are bridged.

Since the majority of food producers are smallholders, transitioning into sustainable technology necessitates significant time and effort. Agroforestry has emerged as a crucial strategy, to conserve endemic tree species while sustaining commercially viable crops. Agricultural training has been recognized for enhancing the skills of smallholder farmers. In this light, Pratiwi employs an experiment utilizing a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) methodology, to assess the impact of training locations on information dissemination and the adoption of agroforestry techniques. Preliminary findings suggest that training, especially in more advanced locations, enhances the adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers through peer influence, exposing them to best practices and successful implementation of agroforestry strategies.