ARCHIVES
VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Politics of agrarian law: Evaluation of Indonesia’s Food Estate program from the perspective of ecological justice and the right to a healthy environment
Authors
Andi Haruman S H, Dr. Bambang Slamet Riyadi, Dr. Riza Zulfikar
Abstract
The Indonesian Food Estate Program, introduced as a National Strategic Project, aims to bolster national food security by converting large tracts of forest and swamp land into agricultural zones. This study conducts a normative legal analysis of the program through the lens of ecological justice and the constitutional right to a healthy environment. Doctrinal research was applied to relevant laws and regulations (1945 Constitution, environmental and agrarian laws), official documents, and secondary sources (academic studies, NGO reports, news). We find that the Food Estate initiative has proceeded with inadequate environmental assessment and conflict with constitutional environmental obligations. Notably, spatial analyses show that over 1,500 hectares of Central Kalimantan forest – including carbon-rich peatlands – were cleared for the project, contributing to ecosystem degradation and increased flood risks [1, 2]. Key legal gaps are identified: the Food Estate lacks a specific legal basis beyond strategic project status, AMDAL (Environmental Impact Assessment) procedures have been incomplete or bypassed [3, 4], and land use regulations (forestry, agrarian, spatial planning) have been inconsistently applied. The program has marginalized local and indigenous communities, violating their rights to environment and land [5, 2]. We conclude that the Food Estate policy constitutes a form of agrarian misgovernance, undermining sustainability and environmental constitutionalism. Remedies include strict AMDAL enforcement, use of degraded (non-forest) lands, participatory planning (FPIC), and legal reforms to integrate environmental safeguards.
Download
Pages:333-340
How to cite this article:
Andi Haruman S H, Dr. Bambang Slamet Riyadi, Dr. Riza Zulfikar "Politics of agrarian law: Evaluation of Indonesia’s Food Estate program from the perspective of ecological justice and the right to a healthy environment". International Journal of Law, Policy and Social Review, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 333-340
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.

