Implications of Agricultural Land Conversion on Food Production and the Environment: A Normative Legal Perspective

Abstract

The rapid development of industrial structures has resulted in the massive conversion of agricultural land. The current problem is the high pressure on land. Conversion of agricultural land causes various direct and indirect impacts. It has severe implications in the form of adverse effects on food production, the environment, and the culture of the community living upstream and around the converted land. This study aims to analyze and understand the nature of controlling the conversion of agricultural land. The research method used is normative legal research, which systematically examines written favorable legal provisions related to the prohibition of the conversion of agricultural land. In addition, laws and regulations related to the problem are analyzed using grammatical and systematic interpretations. The conclusion of this study is that land conversion can be interpreted as a change in the initial land use that has been converted to another land use that the related parties have planned. To protect agricultural land from conversion to land for other purposes, including housing, the Government has issued Law No. 41 of 2009 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land, in this case if the conversion of land use included in the Sustainable Food Agricultural Land area does not comply with the requirements outlined in the law, criminal sanctions and fines will be imposed. In addition, the licensing system in the land sector, in this case, changes and use of land and location permits issued by the land use section, both at the district/city land office and at the provincial National Land Agency regional office must be guided by the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) of each Regency/City.