Transdisciplinary research on local community based sago forest development model for food security and marginal land utilization in the coastal area

Abstract

The most important issue in food security in Indonesia is limited land area which suitable for food crops. While production already reached its highest potency. Eastern part of Indonesia seems to have hidden answer for the food security issues. Sago plant is origin from Indonesia. Sulawesi is known by its unique semi-cultivated system in food production. This paper will describe the transdisciplinary approach in developing a model of sago plant development based on local community. The model is derived based on the research findings related to characteristic of semi-cultivation of sago plant as follows: (a) Sago in Tana Luwu only 3463,36 ha, most of the land already converted to fishpond, and plantation (b) Semi cultivated sago forest produce 24 tons dry sago/year, 4 times than paddy in dryland, (c) Transdisciplinary research method enables the triple helix collaboration of University, Industry and Government, and (d) Collaborative action is a key to bind the stakeholders, in this case the Plan and Design of Sago Science techno park worked effectively. (e) Several government regulations and local community activities have been born at different level.