Adoption and Diffusion of Agroecological Practices in the Horticulture of Catalonia

Abstract

The environmental impact of conventional food production systems imposes a rapid transition towards sustainable production systems through the adoption of agroecological practices. The barriers and accelerators of the adoption of agroecological practices were identified for horticultural crops in Catalonia. Eight interviews and thirty surveys were conducted with local producers. Results show that the loss of producer income and the lack of social awareness regarding organic products are among the important barriers to the adoption of agroecological practices, while information about the experience of other farmers is considered a motivational factor. Finally, the study concludes that the adoption of agroecological practices has economic, political, social, academic and agronomic components.

Keywords

• agroecological practices
• barriers
• accelerators
• farmers’ adoption