Safer, smarter pest control is becoming a cornerstone of Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen its food systems. With agriculture supporting the livelihoods of roughly one in three Indonesians, the way pests are managed has direct implications for farmer health, environmental sustainability and national food security.
Pesticides help farmers protect crops and maintain yields, especially as climate change increases pests and production risks. At the same time, they must be used responsibly to protect people, the environment and food supply.
This is why CropLife Indonesia recently launched the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SPMF) under the theme “Modern Agricultural Technology Adoption to Support a Sustainable and Self-Sufficient Food Supply”. It reinforces Indonesia’s accelerated goal of achieving staple crop self-sufficiency by 2027, one year ahead of the original target. This collaborative and systematic framework aims to strengthen national capacity to implement sustainable crop protection product management policies.
What Is the SPMF?
Launched in 2021, the SPMF is CropLife International’s flagship commitment to accelerating implementation of the FAO / WHO International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. The code guides governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders on best practices in managing pesticides, from production to disposal.
The SPMF offers a practical, science-based approach to pesticide management, helping countries strengthen regulation, boost innovation and promote responsible use, while accounting for farmers’ diverse regional conditions.
Speaking at the launch in Jakarta, Leli Nurhayati, Head of the Center for Plant Variety Protection and Agricultural Licensing at the Ministry of Agriculture, said, “This program is certainly very supportive of the development of sustainable food security, particularly the use of environmentally friendly pesticides.”
The framework operates under three core pillars: risk-based adoption of crop protection technologies, strengthening agricultural innovation and digitalisation along with responsible and effective use.
1. Risk-Based Adoption of Crop Protection Technologies
Farmers across Indonesia face growing pest and disease pressures in the face of climate change and other environmental factors. At the same time, training, guidance and protective equipment vary across farmer contexts. This can lead to decisions made on pesticide use based more on immediate need and without a future outcomes-focused approach or an understanding of the risks to human, animal and environmental health.
Not all pesticide products present the same level of risk: application practices, timing and local environmental factors all can influence the likelihood of harm from improper use. A structured way to assess these variables can avoid mistakes with unintended consequences.
The SPMF embeds risk assessment into decision-making, promoting practical mitigation measures and improved application practices within integrated pest management approaches. This ensures that productivity goals are balanced with long-term human, animal and environmental health.
2. Strengthening Agricultural Innovation and Digitalisation
As a country with vast agricultural potential, Indonesia faces complex challenges, including climate change, shifting geopolitical dynamics, land-use conversion and limited human resources in agricultural management. Expanding access to new technologies, products and plant varieties will enhance farmers’ toolboxes and strengthen sustainable agriculture across the country, benefiting farmers at all levels. Regulatory processes and data systems need to also modernize to enable nation-wide adoption of safer innovations.
For example, biological pesticides often require different handling and application practices compared to conventional chemical formulas. Without clear standardised procedures, their effectiveness can remain low. At the same time, in order to operate safely and with transparency, precision application technologies and drones rely on advanced data systems to support approvals for safe use.
The SPMF is responding to this challenge by prioritising the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for pesticide application by drones, fast-tracking biological registration regulatory processes and accelerating public sector digitalisation. Digital registration systems, precision tools, and integrated plant variety registration mechanisms through digital dashboards across ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) aim to streamline oversight, improve traceability and enable access to the technologies that will strengthen Indonesian agriculture.
3. Responsible and Effective Use
The best agricultural technologies and regulations cannot deliver impact without the requisite knowledge and skills throughout the national workforce to apply them.
It is for this reason that the SPMF also includes integrated programs for farmers and other stakeholders along the value chain. These include training on safe handling and application and resistance management, actions to counter illicit pesticide trade, and managing safe collection and disposal of empty pesticide packaging. Crucially, the program aims to build sustained institutional knowledge (rather than one-time awareness) to support responsible decision-making as new products emerge. At the same time, the SPMF supports the harmonisation of Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) standards, helping farmers and exporters meet food safety and quality requirements, strengthening consumer confidence at home and improving access to international markets.
Impact and Collaboration
The SPMF is already being implemented in Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Chile, Guatemala, Thailand, Vietnam and Colombia. Indonesia, will carry out the program with an estimated budget of USD 1.5 million over five years. This will involve national and regional collaboration, including MRL standardisation, the development of agricultural drone regulations, digital regulations and farmer training.
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia
Indonesia, the leading economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is now the third and final country in Asia to implement the SPMF, following Thailand and Vietnam.
Adoption of the SPMF aligns with the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture to strengthen national food security, improve farmer welfare and enhance climate resilience.
Through the SPMF, stakeholders will build a shared commitment to the responsible, safe and efficient use of crop protection products, supporting food security, export competitiveness and the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, where Indonesia aims to achieve high-income status within the next 20 years.
Learn more about the SPMF from CropLife International.
