Identification and description of relationships between actors involved in crop diversification experiences across Europe

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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Summary in the original language of the document

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:	Belgium > Wallonia > Centre Wallon de Recherche Agronomique (CRA-W) (Gembloux) 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 France > INRAe - Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement Hungary > Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Italy > CREA Poland Sweden > Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) > Department of Biosystems and Technology
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:	52579
Deposited On:	06 Feb 2024 06:26
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2024 09:10
Document Language:	English
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Peer-reviewed and accepted

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Identification and description of relationships between actors involved in crop diversification experiences across Europe. (deposited 18 Oct 2023 13:13)
- Identification and description of relationships between actors involved in crop diversification experiences across Europe. (deposited 06 Feb 2024 06:26) [Currently Displayed]

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