Permata Ika Hidayati

Traditional production landscapes for sustainable development mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity in East Java Indonesia

Introduction

Traditional production landscapes for sustainable development mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity in east java indonesia. Explore sustainable agricultural biodiversity in East Java's traditional production landscapes. Discover challenges, opportunities, and the critical role of farmers' knowledge in fostering a sovereign food system.

Abstract

Mainstreaming biodiversity in production landscapes ensures conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. Mainstreaming integrates biodiversity in existing or new programs and policies, both cross-sectoral and sector-specific. The conventional model of agricultural production with limited diversity in production systems and use of high chemical input has taught us a valuable lesson as it is adversely impacting the environment, the essential ecosystem services, the soil health and the long term sustainability of our food systems. Using a qualitative participant observation approach, our study investigated four distinct traditional East Java production landscapes to gage (i) the farming communities’ response to institutional policies, programs and agricultural biodiversity-related activities in traditional East Java production landscapes and (ii) opportunities and challenges for sustainable development in smallholder traditional East Java farming systems. Results indicate that the top-down decision-making regime is the least effective towards achieving sustainable development in traditional East Java farming landscapes and that farmers’ experiential knowledge on participatory biodiversity management, maintenance and use for sustainable development are of critical importance to East Java’s agriculture and economy. Reclaiming agriculture’s spiritual roots through organic farming and locally grown food emerged as key, including the need for designing and implementing a more sovereign food system. Revisiting traditional smallholder farming under the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons learned for repurposing East Java’s agricultural policy are also highlighted.

Review

This paper addresses the critical issue of mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity in traditional production landscapes, specifically focusing on East Java, Indonesia, to achieve sustainable development. The authors effectively set the stage by highlighting the detrimental impacts of conventional, high-input agriculture, underscoring the urgent need for alternative approaches. The chosen geographical focus is pertinent, offering insights from a region rich in traditional farming practices. Employing a qualitative participant observation approach across four distinct landscapes, the study aims to understand community responses to policies and identify opportunities and challenges for sustainability in smallholder systems, an endeavor highly relevant to current global discourse on food security and ecological resilience. The findings of this research present compelling arguments for a paradigm shift in agricultural policy and practice. The study critically reveals that top-down decision-making frameworks are largely ineffective in fostering sustainable development in East Java's traditional farming landscapes. Instead, it strongly emphasizes the indispensable role of farmers' experiential knowledge and participatory approaches to biodiversity management. A particularly insightful contribution is the emergence of organic farming, locally grown food, and the concept of a sovereign food system, linked profoundly to "reclaiming agriculture’s spiritual roots." The paper’s contemporary relevance is further enhanced by its inclusion of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, offering timely considerations for repurposing agricultural policy in the region. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to the literature on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and rural development. Its strength lies in its grounded, qualitative approach, which provides rich insights into the complexities of traditional farming systems and the dynamics between local communities and institutional policies. The policy implications are clear and actionable, advocating for a shift towards more farmer-centric, culturally attuned, and ecologically sound agricultural practices. By underscoring the value of indigenous knowledge and the imperative for systemic change, the paper offers valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners aiming to build more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems, not just in East Java but potentially for other traditional agricultural regions globally.

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