Yogyakarta, 5 February 2026─The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), through the Social Research Center of the Department of Sociology, held a Public Discussion and Book Launch of the Peasant and Agrarian Change Study Series entitled “The Indonesian Farmer Regeneration Crisis and Transnational Agrarian Activism” today, Thursday (February 5) at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Auditorium.
Featuring Jun Borras (author of the books “The Political Dynamics of Transnational Agrarian Movements” and “Scholarly Activism & Agrarian Struggle”), Amalinda Savirani (Professor of the Department of Politics and Government, Universitas Gadjah Mada), Pitra Hutomo (Circle of Spatial Justice), Ben White (author of the book “Agriculture & Generational Problems”), and Oki Rahadianto Sutopo (Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Universitas Gadjah Mada), this discussion focused on in-depth perspectives on the dynamics of agrarian change in the context of the farmer regeneration crisis and the challenges of agrarian justice in Indonesia.
Laksmi Savitri, Publishing Coordinator of the Farmers and Change Study Series, highlighted the relevance of agrarian activism today in her remarks.
“Writing a book and discussing it in a forum that brings together internationally renowned scholars, global activists, and policymakers, hopefully, will foster a more militant spirit in exploring agrarian democratization and activism for agrarian change,” she explained.
This discussion addressed two major themes within the series on farmers and agrarian change. First, the crisis of farmer regeneration, specifically how issues of land, livelihoods, and the future of agriculture are understood across generations. Second, the dynamics of the national agrarian movement, including the role of the state and people’s movements or scholarly activism in addressing the dynamics of agrarian conflict.
The event, organized in collaboration between SOREC, YOUSURE, Initiatives in Critical Agrarian Studies (ICAS), Insist Press, and the UGM Center for Rural and Regional Studies, opened a space for critical thinking and dialogue for the democratization of knowledge and critical agrarian studies, while aligning with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), through discussions of agricultural sustainability and farmer regeneration as pillars of the national food system. Furthermore, this discussion also contributes to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality) by highlighting unequal land tenure and access, as well as SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) through a critical examination of agrarian conflicts, the role of the state, and scholarly activism in the fight for agrarian justice. The collaboration across academic institutions, civil society, and transnational networks involved in this activity also reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in promoting the democratization of knowledge and strengthening critical agrarian studies in Indonesia.