Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Assessment of Organic Salak Pondoh (Salacca edulis Reinw) Farming in Magelang Using the SAFA Framework

Authors

  • sukron romadhona Diponegoro University
  • Ardhian Miftahul Universitas Proklamasi 45 Yogyakarta

Keywords:

SAFA, Organic Farming, Sustainability, Salak, Magelang

Abstract

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

Downloads

Published

2025-12-01

How to Cite

romadhona, sukron, & Miftahul, A. (2025). Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Assessment of Organic Salak Pondoh (Salacca edulis Reinw) Farming in Magelang Using the SAFA Framework. Journal of Rural and Regional Innovation Studies, 1(2), 107–124. Retrieved from https://journal.unesa.ac.id/index.php/jorris/article/view/45639
Abstract views: 2 , PDF Downloads: 0