Designing Innovative Crops According to the Needs of Climate Change and Green Deal

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation pose an actual threat to Europe and the rest of the world. Innovative or retrovative crops could be components of alternative redesigned agro-ecosystems, meeting the EU Green Deal targets for reduced use of chemical inputs by 2030. The present study aimed to evaluate: a) the adaptation of production to the stormy effects of climate change, b) the detection of the receptivity of the producers to the application of the design of innovative and retro-innovative crops in the field, and c) the in-depth detection of inhibiting factors (natural resources, economic, social and anthropogenic factors) for producers. A quantitative research was performed using structured interviews (face to face - a set of questions) and open-ended questions. The selected sample was composed of 41 farmers and the study area was the Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece. The statistical processing of the answers showed a significant correlation of change receptivity with age, educational level and the main profession. Younger people, those with higher education and non-mainstream farmers are more receptive to change and switch to innovative crops. The environment, climatic and economic, requires adaptation and change in order to maintain sustainability. Producers are receptive to reforms and shifts to innovative and retro-innovative crops. However, there is a lack of coherent policies in the direction of building infrastructure, solving structural problems, training and transferring know-how, and finally, providing incentives and opportunities by creating and utilizing the appropriate tools.

Keywords

• climate change
• innovative crops
• retro-innovative crops
• restrictive factors
• sustainability