The demonization of the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) program in the media: A critical ecolinguistic study
Indonesia's food security program has been implemented to increase the national crop production and economic gains. However, the policy has sparked a nationwide debate about its ecological and social issues. Mass media play an important role in bringing the policy to the spotlight. In its reports, Mongabay frequently represents the program through negative evaluative language that emphasizes its environmental and sociocultural consequences.. This study aims to examine how the media demonize the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) program and scrutinize its ecological and ideological implications. This qualitative study employs critical ecolinguistic discourse analysis to examine ecological representations in media texts. The data of demonization were ascertained from news articles about the MIFEE program published by Mongabay during the period 2012–2024. The results of the study indicate that firstly demonization of the MIFEE project by the media is a discursive strategy to frame that the program is represented as causing ecological, social, and cultural harm that outweighs its claimed benefits for food production and economic growth. Secondly, the nature is presented as a living entity directly impacted by human intervention. Thirdly, food security policies are presented to be entwined with human rights issues, and the shifting in local food systems is seen as a form of gastrocolonialism. The analysis results demonstrate that demonization of the project by the media has shaped an alternative ecological narrative and policy makers should ensure that food sovereignity projects go hand in hand with environmental sustainability and the life and culture of the local people.
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