Tropical countries are vital to global agriculture, supplying key commodities such as rubber, coffee, cocoa, oil palm and coconut to meet international demand. However, this demand drives widespread land-use changes, poses environmental challenges and threatens local food security. Indonesia, with some of the world’s most biodiverse tropical forests, exemplifies this complexity as a major agricultural producer and as one of the largest contributors to land-based carbon emissions due to deforestation. Balancing agriculture, forest conservation and food security presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.

To explore these dynamics, an NRI-led project is delving into the complex interplay between agricultural expansion, forest conservation and market access in shaping food security within tropical landscapes. As part of project activities, a three-day workshop was held from 18^th to 20^th September in Makassar, Indonesia to gather stakeholder insights on regional land use changes. The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including farmers, researchers, NGO practitioners, government officials and academics, from regions across Indonesia. Their rich, firsthand experience made the discussions at the workshop extremely valuable. The attendees offered unique perspectives that not only deepened the understanding of existing data on agricultural and forest land changes but also shed light on the underlying mechanisms and policies driving these shifts, and their social, cultural and environmental implications.

‘Such workshops go beyond merely introducing core scientific concepts. They serve as a dynamic, interdisciplinary platform where ideas are refined, studies are broadened, and valuable collaborations thrive,’ said Professor Muhammad Alif Sahide from the University of Hasanuddin. ‘By prioritising inclusivity, we aim to create an engaging and participatory environment where every attendee’s voice is integral to shaping the research and knowledge’, he emphasised. The University of Hasanuddin in Makassar is one of the collaborators on the project. This initiative also brings together experts from Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency and the State University of Papua.

Launched in October 2023, the project is analysing how different forest conservation schemes and agricultural production models impact food security and how these interact with access to markets. Evidence and lessons learnt from the project will inform strategies to strengthen food systems in Indonesia and other tropical regions.

Truly Santika, Associate Professor in Environmental Geography at NRI, said, "This project aims to unravel the complex interactions between food and cash crop production and various forest conservation strategies, such as state-managed protected areas and community land management. We are also examining the influence of market dynamics. All these play pivotal roles in shaping food security." She added that food security is inherently multifaceted, which is why the project is anchored in the six pillars of food security: availability, accessibility, utilisation, stability, agency and sustainability.

The project, ‘Evaluating the interrelated impacts of commodity agriculture, market access, and forest conservation on food security in tropical landscape’ is a multidisciplinary project funded by three UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) councils. These are the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). It is supported through the ESRC's Secondary Data Analysis Initiative.