Regulatory reform, food security, and indigenous communities: Efforts to realize inclusive governance

Governance theory emphasizes the importance of inclusive, participatory, and multi-actor decision-making processes in achieving equitable and sustainable policy outcomes, particularly in diverse and marginalized contexts (Radtke, 2025). This study aims to evaluate the participation of indigenous communities in large-scale agricultural policies (Food Estate) in Merauke Regency, analyze the impact of regulatory reforms on social justice and food sovereignty, and formulate inclusive and sustainable policy recommendations. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, this study was conducted in three districts of Semangga, Kurik, and Tanah Miring, which have high involvement in the Food Estate program. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), participant observation, and documentation studies. The study shows that indigenous participation remains largely symbolic due to the dominance of state and corporate actors in decision-making, and this mismatch between national regulations and local socio-cultural realities has resulted in social marginalization and the erosion of indigenous food sovereignty. This study highlights the need to integrate customary law into national governance while strengthening local community roles in food policy, providing empirical support for a hybrid governance model that accommodates multicultural and agrarian complexities to guide socially inclusive policies in customary and border regions.