Cornu, Marie-Aline; Frick, Rebekka; Chongtham, Iman Raj; Iocola, Ileana; Canali, Stefano; Colombo, Luca; Radzikowski, Pawel; Stalenga, Jarosław; Viguier, Loic; Drexler, Dora; Schneider, Anne; Stilmant, Didier and Vanwindekens, Frederic (2023) Identification and description of relationships between actors involved in crop diversification experiences across Europe. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 43 (67), pp. 1-19.
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Document available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-023-00906-8
Summary
Agriculture can benefit from crop diversification to facilitate its transition to more sustainable agrifood systems. However, these practices remain rare in Europe. One major barrier is the existence of sociotechnical lock-ins. To clarify the dynamics at work, we analyzed the relationships between actors involved in 23 crop diversification experiences across 11 European countries. The novelty of this paper lies in the systemic analysis of the network of actors involved in crop diversification experiences. Using data from qualitative interviews and cognitive mapping approaches, we identify and describe the role of actors and the key relationships in crop diversification and detect relationships that are currently missing. Our study shows that in the different European countries, similar relationships act as levers or barriers to crop diversification, with farmers and researchers playing a crucial role. The most important cognitive factors that influence the choice of farmers to diversify are
environmental and health concerns and the desire to make profit and innovate. We relate the cognitive factors to organizational, technical, economic, and political factors and suggest levers for crop diversification based on successful crop diversification experiences.
| EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Agroecological transition, Cognitive mapping, Social-ecological systems, Qualitative approaches, Dynamics of agri-food systems, DIVERImpacts, Abacus, FiBL10104 |
| Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English agroecology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92381 English crop diversification -> diversification http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2344 English qualitative analysis http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_35284 English network analysis http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5144 English relationship schemes http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_49840 English systems analysis http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7581 |
| Subjects: | Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions Farming Systems > Farm economics Farming Systems > Social aspects Food systems > Community development > Networks and ownership Food systems > Produce chain management |
| Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Anbautechnik > Crop rotations Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Arable crops > Legumes Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Anbautechnik > Mixed cropping Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Sustainability > Sustainability assessment Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Field trials > Systems comparison European Union > Horizon 2020 > Diverimpacts |
| Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number: | 727482 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13593-023-00906-8 |
| Related Links: | https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/1276 |
| Deposited By: | Csajbók, Edit |
| ID Code: | 51826 |
| Deposited On: | 18 Oct 2023 13:13 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2024 06:01 |
| Document Language: | English |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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