Biodiesel Mandates and Food Security: A Review of the Double-Edged Sword Palm Oil Allocation in Southeast Asia

This research examines the relationship between palm oil-based biodiesel mandate policies and food security in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The push for renewable energy transition encourages increased use of biodiesel to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but it presents a dilemma between energy needs and food availability. This study aims to assess the extent to which these policies affect land allocation, food production, and food price stability. The research employs the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method based on the PRISMA protocol on 24 scientific articles published during the period 2020–2025. The findings indicate that the expansion of biodiesel increases the allocation of palm oil for energy, drives the conversion of agricultural land for food, and triggers price volatility in cooking oil and other food commodities. Although it contributes to energy diversification and rural economic development, this policy also poses risks to food security, land equity, and environmental sustainability. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating energy, agriculture, and land governance policies to balance the goals of energy security and food sovereignty.