Introduction: The push for sustainable agriculture in the Mediterranean region has positioned biopesticides as a vital alternative to conventional chemical inputs. Despite their ecological benefits, the adoption of biopesticides remains limited, confined to a small market segment. This presentation synthesizes the findings of a narrative literary review and a comparative qualitative field study to provide a multi-layered analysis of the challenges and opportunities for biopesticide implementation. It focuses on the key agricultural nations of Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey to understand the factors shaping farmers' decisions.
Methods: The research employed a two-phase methodology. The first phase consisted of a narrative review of the academic and grey literature to identify the overarching structural, legislative, economic, and cultural barriers to biopesticide adoption in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The second phase involved a comparative qualitative case study in three key agricultural sites: the Ebro Delta (Spain), the Nabeul region (Tunisia), and Adana province (Turkey). This phase utilized two rounds of semi-structured interviews with farmers to investigate the on-the-ground push and pull factors influencing their pest management choices.
Results: The analysis reveals a "vicious circle" where interactions among farmers, producers, and regulators impede widespread adoption. Key barriers consistently identified include high costs, limited market availability, and significant skepticism among farmers regarding the efficacy of biopesticides compared to conventional products. These are compounded by structural issues such as complex and slow registration processes, a lack of local manufacturing plants, and insufficient technical training for farmers. Conversely, adoption is driven by stringent regulations like the EU's "Farm to Fork" strategy, growing consumer demand for sustainable products, and the presence of supportive cooperatives and agricultural education networks.
Conclusions: The transition to biopesticides is not merely a technical substitution but a complex socio-economic challenge shaped by farmers' economic fragility and risk aversion. Overcoming the current impasse requires a coordinated approach that moves beyond top-down mandates. Priority should be given to providing direct economic support and incentives to farmers, simplifying regulatory pathways for new products, investing in research to improve efficacy and reduce costs, and strengthening farmer training and knowledge-sharing networks to build confidence and technical competency.
