Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Assessment of Organic Salak Pondoh (Salacca edulis Reinw) Farming in Magelang Using the SAFA Framework
Keywords:
SAFA, Organic Farming, Sustainability, Salak, MagelangAbstract
This study uses a quantitative descriptive approach with the SAFA Framework to assess the sustainability of organic agriculture in Magelang through three main dimensions: governance, environmental integrity, and economic resilience. The results show that the governance system has been running well with the application of ethical principles, accountability, participation, and strong management, although there is still room for improvement in compliance with regulations. The environmental aspect shows fairly good conditions with efficient natural resource management, but biodiversity remains an aspect that requires special attention. From an economic perspective, organic farming shows strong resilience through increased investment value, product quality, and contribution to the local economy. In general, organic farming practices in this region reflect a high level of sustainability with solid governance and resource efficiency. The highest overall holistic management score is 100%, reflecting strong ethics and management. However, soil conservation, with a score of 60%, requires attention. Continuous efforts to strengthen biodiversity, soil conservation, and risk mitigation are key to realizing a more adaptive and sustainable agricultural system.
References
Al Shamsi, K. B., Guarnaccia, P., Cosentino, S. L., Leonardi, C., Caruso, P., Stella, G., & Timpanaro, G. (2019). Analysis of relationships and sustainability performance in organic agriculture in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily (Italy). Resources, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8010039
Bhérer-Breton, P., Woodhouse, A., Åby, B. A., Bos-Brouwers, H., Kok, M., & Olsen, H. F. (2025). Implementing sustainability frameworks at a product-level – Exploring the usability. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 25(October 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100593
Bonisoli, L., Galdeano-Gómez, E., Piedra-Muñoz, L., & Pérez-Mesa, J. C. (2019). Benchmarking agri-food sustainability certifications: Evidences from applying SAFA in the Ecuadorian banana agri-system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.07.054
Curran, M., Lazzarini, G., Baumgart, L., Gabel, V., Blockeel, J., Epple, R., Stolze, M., & Schader, C. (2020). Representative Farm-Based Sustainability Assessment of the Organic Sector in Switzerland Using the SMART-Farm Tool. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(November). https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.554362
Ferla, G., Mura, B., Falasco, S., Caputo, P., & Matarazzo, A. (2024). Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for sustainability assessment in food sector. A systematic literature review on methods, indicators and tools. Science of the Total Environment, 946(March), 174235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174235
Heylen, C., Meunier, F., Peeters, A., Ek, S., Neang, M., Hean, S., & Peanh, S. (2019). Multidimensional Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture Practices of Cambodian Smallholder Farmers. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 9(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v9n1p10
Kaewchutima, N., Suttinun, O., Sinthipong, U., & Musikavong, C. (2025). A legal and SAFA-based framework for improving the environmental integrity toward Thailand’s agriculture sustainability. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 26(August 2024), 100681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100681
Nurul H, T., Irianto, H., & Qonita, A. (2018). The Impacts of Socio-Economic Factors On The Income Of Salak Nglumut (Salacca Zalacca Sp.) Farmers in Srumbung District of Magelang Regency. 172(FANRes), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.2991/fanres-18.2018.10
Rahmatullah, P., Gunawan, W., & Mulyaningrum. (2024). Integration of the balanced scorecard and FAO SAFA for assessing the sustainability of horticultural production in Jawa Barat. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1377(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1377/1/012001
Romadhona, S., & Puryono, S. (2024). FARMER DECISION CRITERIA IN DETERMINING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND ORGANIC FOOD CROPES. 24(1), 1–9.
Romadhona, S., Puryono, S., Rachmawati, S., & Sciences, N. (2024). Holistic Sustainability Assessment of Certified Organic, NonCertified Organic, and Non-Organic Rice Farming Practices Using SAFA Framework in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. 10(2), 256–278.
Ssebunya, B. R., Schader, C., Baumgart, L., Landert, J., Altenbuchner, C., Schmid, E., & Stolze, M. (2019). Sustainability Performance of Certified and Non-certified Smallholder Coffee Farms in Uganda. Ecological Economics, 156(August 2018), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.09.004
Wadghane, R. H., Madguni, O., & Baisakhi, B. (2025). Unlocking sustainability potential: A SAFA framework analysis of sugarcane agriculture in Marathwada, Maharashtra, India. Sustainable Futures, 10(October 2024), 101118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101118
Zarbà, C., Gravagno, R. M., Chinnici, G., & Scuderi, A. (2025). A systematic review of the SAFA framework in the literature: An approach to assess sustainability in agri-food systems. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 16(October 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100267
Al Shamsi, K. B., Guarnaccia, P., Cosentino, S. L., Leonardi, C., Caruso, P., Stella, G., & Timpanaro, G. (2019). Analysis of relationships and sustainability performance in organic agriculture in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily (Italy). Resources, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8010039
Bhérer-Breton, P., Woodhouse, A., Åby, B. A., Bos-Brouwers, H., Kok, M., & Olsen, H. F. (2025). Implementing sustainability frameworks at a product-level – Exploring the usability. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 25(October 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100593
Bonisoli, L., Galdeano-Gómez, E., Piedra-Muñoz, L., & Pérez-Mesa, J. C. (2019). Benchmarking agri-food sustainability certifications: Evidences from applying SAFA in the Ecuadorian banana agri-system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.07.054
Curran, M., Lazzarini, G., Baumgart, L., Gabel, V., Blockeel, J., Epple, R., Stolze, M., & Schader, C. (2020). Representative Farm-Based Sustainability Assessment of the Organic Sector in Switzerland Using the SMART-Farm Tool. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(November). https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.554362
Ferla, G., Mura, B., Falasco, S., Caputo, P., & Matarazzo, A. (2024). Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for sustainability assessment in food sector. A systematic literature review on methods, indicators and tools. Science of the Total Environment, 946(March), 174235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174235
Heylen, C., Meunier, F., Peeters, A., Ek, S., Neang, M., Hean, S., & Peanh, S. (2019). Multidimensional Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture Practices of Cambodian Smallholder Farmers. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 9(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v9n1p10
Kaewchutima, N., Suttinun, O., Sinthipong, U., & Musikavong, C. (2025). A legal and SAFA-based framework for improving the environmental integrity toward Thailand’s agriculture sustainability. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 26(August 2024), 100681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100681
Nurul H, T., Irianto, H., & Qonita, A. (2018). The Impacts of Socio-Economic Factors On The Income Of Salak Nglumut (Salacca Zalacca Sp.) Farmers in Srumbung District of Magelang Regency. 172(FANRes), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.2991/fanres-18.2018.10
Rahmatullah, P., Gunawan, W., & Mulyaningrum. (2024). Integration of the balanced scorecard and FAO SAFA for assessing the sustainability of horticultural production in Jawa Barat. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1377(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1377/1/012001
Romadhona, S., & Puryono, S. (2024). FARMER DECISION CRITERIA IN DETERMINING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND ORGANIC FOOD CROPES. 24(1), 1–9.
Romadhona, S., Puryono, S., Rachmawati, S., & Sciences, N. (2024). Holistic Sustainability Assessment of Certified Organic, NonCertified Organic, and Non-Organic Rice Farming Practices Using SAFA Framework in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. 10(2), 256–278.
Ssebunya, B. R., Schader, C., Baumgart, L., Landert, J., Altenbuchner, C., Schmid, E., & Stolze, M. (2019). Sustainability Performance of Certified and Non-certified Smallholder Coffee Farms in Uganda. Ecological Economics, 156(August 2018), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.09.004
Wadghane, R. H., Madguni, O., & Baisakhi, B. (2025). Unlocking sustainability potential: A SAFA framework analysis of sugarcane agriculture in Marathwada, Maharashtra, India. Sustainable Futures, 10(October 2024), 101118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101118
Zarbà, C., Gravagno, R. M., Chinnici, G., & Scuderi, A. (2025). A systematic review of the SAFA framework in the literature: An approach to assess sustainability in agri-food systems. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 16(October 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100267
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