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ABSTRACT
The development of more resilient and sustainable food systems depends on the integration of ecological and sustainability concepts into agricultural systems. One proposed way to achieve this is to shift to ‘agroecology’. This concept appears promising, but there is a need to translate it in specific socio-ecological contexts, given that agroecological innovations develop locally and are responsive to local conditions. The objective of this paper is to examine the relevance of an Agroecological Transition for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (SRY), Indonesia, with an emphasis on farmers’ perspectives and experiences. Data were gathered from policy documents, field observations and 34 semi-structured interviews with farmers. Findings indicate that although there is limited discourse about agroecology in current policies, some farmers and NGOs have developed agroecological niche innovations. It may be possible to up-scale these niches to a broader context, with planning policies having a potential role in supporting this transition. Furthermore, farmers identify that the planning system can contribute to food sovereignty and Agroecological Transition by preserving agricultural land, managing regional cropping patterns and supporting the development of urban agriculture. These insights broaden existing knowledge around the potential of sustainable food planning through agroecology.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the support we have received for this research through the provision of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. We also would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sri T. Pandangwati
Dr. Sri Tuntung Pandangwati is a lecturer in urban and regional planning at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Her research interests include planning for sustainable and resilient food systems and regional planning. She is particularly interested in research that explores the nexus of spatial planning and food sovereignty.
Benjamin Cooke
Associate Professor Benjamin Cooke teaches in sustainability and urban [lanning at RMIT and is a member of the Centre for Urban Research RMIT. His research interests include human-environment relations, urban natures, environmental stewardship, private land conservation and cultural land governance.
Melissa Neave
Dr. Melissa Neave is a senior lecturer in sustainability and urban planning at RMIT and is a member of the Centre for Urban Research RMIT. She is an environmental geographer with experience in natural resource management and a particular interest in water resources.