The potential of silvopasture as a solution for food security

Abstract

Background: Indonesia’s animal food sub-sector remains highly dependent on imports. Beef consumption rose by 21% over the past five years without a matching increase in domestic production, and imports of feeder cattle and frozen meat reached 38% of national demand in 2024. Limited feed land and natural resource degradation further constrain livestock growth. Silvopasture, which integrates forestry and livestock systems, offers a sustainable solution to improve economic productivity, food security, and ecological balance. Methods: This study applies a literature review and policy analysis of scientific publications, national policies (Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of National Development Planning), and quantitative data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and the World Bank (2020–2025). Findings: Silvopasture can increase land productivity by up to 40%, feed cost efficiency by 25%, and farmer income by 30%. If implemented nationally across 1 million hectares, it could reduce beef imports by 600,000 tons and create 250,000 green jobs by 2030. This paper recommends a National Silvopasture Policy Framework built on cross-sectoral policy integration, fiscal incentives, green financing, and capacity building for farmer-rancher institutions. Conclusion: Economically, silvopasture raises farmer income, lowers feed costs, and helps reduce beef imports. Ecologically, it improves soil structure, increases organic matter, and sequesters carbon. Socially, it strengthens the rural economy and creates jobs based on sustainable natural resources. Novelty/Originality of this article: To date, no national policy framework explicitly regulates silvopasture management. Social Forestry and Cattle Self-Sufficiency policies run separately, without institutional integration. A comprehensive, evidence-based approach is therefore needed to make silvopasture an integral part of national food security strategy.