Beyond Food versus Fuel: Oil Palm as a Strategic Platform forIndonesia’s Food–Energy Resilience and Sustainable Bioeconomy

Abstract

Indonesia’s oil-palm sector is usually assessed through separate debates concerning edible oils, biodiesel, exports, rural livelihoods, deforestation, or sustainability certification. Such fragmentation obscures its potential role within a broader national resilience system. This qualitative literature review critically examines whether and under what conditions oil palm can function as a strategic platform for strengthening Indonesia’s food and energy resilience. Drawing primarily on peer-reviewed literature published during 2020–2026, the review integrates seven interconnected themes: food-system resilience, bioenergy security, sustainable land intensification, smallholder livelihoods, plantation diversification, circular bioeconomy, and environmental governance. The synthesis indicates that oil palm’s strategic value extends beyond crude palm oil because existing plantation landscapes can potentially support intercropping during replanting, livestock integration, biomass valorization, biogas, biodiesel, waste-derived fuels, and downstream industries. However, these benefits are conditional rather than automatic. Higher biofuel demand can intensify food–fuel and land-use pressures, while inadequate replanting finance, low smallholder productivity, tenure insecurity, weak traceability, peat degradation, and unequal access to certification can undermine resilience. The review proposes a Food–Energy–Land–Livelihood Resilience Nexus in which productivity-led replanting, temporary diversification, circular resource use, smallholder inclusion, and zero-deforestation safeguards constitute mutually reinforcing pillars. Indonesia should therefore prioritize intensification and value creation over frontier expansion and develop regionally differentiated pilot programs before nationwide scaling.