Indonesia Prepares Transition to Low-Emission Agriculture

The Indonesian Government is preparing a transition to a low-carbon emission agricultural system through sustainable practices in line with the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). “Indonesia is currently preparing an initiative to promote low-emission rice farming systems, particularly in low- and medium-yield production areas,” said Ade Candradijaya, Head of the Agricultural Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, during virtual remarks at the FAO’s Sustainable Rice Transformation Dialogue in Sanur, Bali, on Monday. According to him, the initiative prioritises a measurable approach that can reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and increasing farmers’ incomes. The utilisation of digital technology also presents a significant opportunity, and data systems support efficient and sustainable rice production. Nevertheless, he continued, the Indonesian government stresses that food security cannot be achieved solely based on increasing productivity; sustainability actions are also needed, including managing water resources, soil health, climate adaptation, and production efficiency. To promote low-emission agriculture, the Indonesian Government appreciates the support from international partnership and funding bodies, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), FAO, World Bank, UNDP, and other partners through the Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP). “This programme provides an important platform to advance an integrated approach that supports food production, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience,” he added to dozens of delegates from 12 countries in Asia and Africa gathered for the dialogue in Bali. With a GEF grant of more than USD 280 million and total investments of around USD 2.2 billion, the FSIP prioritises key food sectors including staple crops such as rice, wheat, and maize, as well as globally traded commodities like cocoa, palm oil, and soybeans, livestock, and aquaculture, while implementing integrated farming systems and sustainable environmental management. According to the FAO in 2023, emissions from global food and agricultural systems reached 16.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or about 32 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.