Farmers, planning and Agroecological transition: insights from the special region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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. © 2024 Geographical Society of New South Wales Inc.