EXPLORING THE ADOPTION OF INNOVATIVE SPRAYING EQUIPMENT
IFSA 2020 Conference – Évora, Portugal
Farming Systems Facing Climate Change and Resource Challenges
(draft under review)
Alex Koutsourisa, V. Kanakib, et al.c
a Agricultural University of Athens, koutsouris@aua.gr
b Agricultural University of Athens, vskanaki@gmail.com
c INNOSETA partners
Abstract
Plant Protection Products (PPP) industry and research have been developing more sustainable, novel PPPs; at the same time, spraying technologies have experienced important improvements in terms of efficiency and safety, including in their development the latest advances in electronics, data management and safety aspects. New PPP developments and the latest advancements in intelligent sprayers have further been complemented with a large list of Best Management Practices (BMP). Unfortunately, there is still an important gap between research developments and the actual use of the available tools and practices by farmers, especially for this large number of small and medium producers with limited access to relevant information.
The H2020 project INNOSETA is organized to explore spraying application needs in the most commonly used crops (cereals, vegetables, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses) in seven European countries. The aim of INNOSETA is to set-up a Thematic Network on Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising designed for the effective exchange between researchers, industry, extension services and farming community. This network will link directly applicable research and commercial solutions and grassroots level needs and innovative ideas thus contributing to close the research and innovation divide in this area.
The purpose of this paper is to explore factors impeding the adoption of innovative spraying equipment and relevant Best Management Practices (BMPs) as well as farmers’ information and training needs (i.e. demands for/from extension/innovation support services).
Data have been collected through a survey in 7 EU countries, based on a questionnaire addressing both adopters and non-adopters of innovative spraying equipment and BMPs. The questionnaire comprises the following sections: Farm data; Existing Spraying Equipment and Machinery; Innovative Spraying Equipment awareness; Adoption/Non Adoption of Innovative Spraying Equipment; Best Management Practices; Farmer’s information seeking behavior on innovative spraying equipment; Farmer’s opinion about technology (in general); Farmer’s Innovativeness (in general); Farmer (demographics, SETA experience & training, etc.). A total of 348 questionnaires were collected and analysed using multivariate data analysis.
Furthermore, 32 experts representing research/academia, the industry and extension/advisory organisations have been interviewed (aide-memoire).
The combination of the analyses of the two data sets are expected to produce interesting results concerning the adoption of such technologies and practices and the (potential) role of advisory/extension services.