How to Identify Barriers to the Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture? A Study Based on a Multi-Criteria Model

Abstract

The world’s population grows yearly, so increasing food production is necessary, to meet consumer demands. This production must be clean; thus, sustainable agriculture seems to represent a solution. However, social, economic, and environmental barriers impede the adoption of this practice. Therefore, this research identified these barriers, according to the sustainability triple-bottom line through a literature review, and analyzed which barriers are more influential and vulnerable to influences, using the Fuzzy DEMATEL method, as well as by considering the opinions of 30 mixed crop producers. As a result, eleven barriers were identified; and “technical knowledge and qualified workforce” was the most influential on not adopting sustainable agriculture. A multi-criteria model was provided and could be replicated in further research. Thus, sustainable practices are provided, to minimize the barriers’ negative impacts and assist producers; highlighting investment and policies for training farmers to have the technical knowledge to practice sustainable agriculture. Theoretical implications were reviewed, such as an analysis of the barriers found in the literature and the lack of studies reporting on the difficulty of producers in adopting sustainable agriculture, as well as the practical implications of providing assistance and transferring knowledge, to eliminate these barriers, so that sustainable practices can be efficiently implemented.