Ecology - Oriented Performance of Agricultural Cooperatives Incorporating Local Wisdom: Evidence from the Lake Toba Region, Indonesia

Most studieson agricultural cooperatives have primarily concentrated on economic outcomes, often neglecting ecological and socio - cultural aspects, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. This study examines agricultural cooperative performance by integrating economic, ecological, socio- cultural, and spatial dimensions within the Lake Toba National Strategic Area. Using a qualitative single-case study approach, the research focuses on the Maju Jaya Agricultural Cooperative, selected through institution-based purposive sampling and officialrecommendation from the North Sumatra Provincial Office of Cooperatives and SMEs. Data were gatheredthrough in - depth interviews, field observations, and analysis of institutional documents, and were validated through source triangulation, institutional verification, and thick description. Cooperative performance was evaluated using a context- specific Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework encompassing agribusiness performance, ecological sustainability of Lake Toba, Batak socio-cultural values, and the spatial characteristics of a mountainous economy. The results indicate that the cooperative demonstrates generally good to very good performance, particularly in harvest absorption, value-added generation, environmentally responsible farmingpractices, democratic governance, and member cohesion. The study advances the conceptualization of agricultural cooperatives as socio-ecological institutions and provides practical insights for sustainable cooperative development in national strategic and ecologically sensitive regions.