The Difficult Decision of Using Biopesticides: A Comparative Case-Study Analysis Concerning the Adoption of Biopesticides in the Mediterranean Region

first_pageDownload PDFsettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle The Difficult Decision of Using Biopesticides: A Comparative Case-Study Analysis Concerning the Adoption of Biopesticides in the Mediterranean Region by Elena Fusar Poli 1,Juan Miguel Campos 2ORCID,Maria Teresa Martinez Ferrer 2ORCID,Ridha Rahmouni 3,Souad Rouis 4ORCID,Zeynep Yurtkuran 5 andMichele Filippo Fontefrancesco 1,6,7,*ORCID 1 University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Bra, Italy 2 Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, 43870 Amposta, Spain 3 Citrus Technical Center, Nabeul 8099, Tunisia 4 Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, Sfax 3018, Tunisia 5 Biyans Biological Products, 06690 Çankaya, Turkey 6 Department of Sociology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy 7 Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3HP, UK * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Agriculture 2025, 15(6), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060640 Submission received: 30 January 2025 / Revised: 3 March 2025 / Accepted: 14 March 2025 / Published: 18 March 2025 (This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract The adoption of biopesticides in Mediterranean agriculture is shaped by environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors. This study explores the push and pull factors influencing farmers’ decisions in Spain’s Ebro Delta, Tunisia’s Nabeul region, and Turkey’s Adana province. Through qualitative fieldwork and comparative analysis, key barriers to adoption are identified, including high costs, limited market availability, skepticism about efficacy, and reliance on conventional pesticides. However, this study also highlights opportunities driven by regulatory changes, increasing market demand for sustainable products, and the potential of biopesticides to improve ecological sustainability. The research follows a comparative case-study approach and was conducted between January and November 2024. The methodology included a literature review, two rounds of qualitative interviews with farmers, and thematic analysis to identify barriers and enabling factors, ensuring methodological rigor and cross-validation. Findings indicate that farmers’ professional ethos and economic conditions significantly limit biopesticide adoption. Perceived inefficacy, high production costs, and low profit margins reinforce reluctance. Spain struggles with skepticism, Tunisia faces economic and informational barriers, and Turkey’s reliance on traditional practices slows innovation. Despite these obstacles, key drivers facilitate adoption, including improved agricultural education, cooperative support, and increasing consumer demand for sustainable products. Legal frameworks, particularly the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy, play a crucial role, though top-down policies risk local resistance. This study outlines a model for biopesticide adoption based on seven key factors, with legal frameworks and farm structure emerging as primary drivers. Addressing economic and educational barriers is crucial for widespread adoption. By implementing targeted policies, Mediterranean agriculture can become a model for sustainable practices, balancing productivity and environmental stewardship.