This study report fulfils Deliverable 5.1 of the NOVATERRA project which aims to evaluate the level of acceptance of alternatives to contentious plant protection products (PPPs) in vineyards and olive groves. Ultimately, the results of the study are used to design a web-based tool capable of predicting the level of adoption intentions among farmers in the two sectors in the EU Mediterranean regions.
To achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative and quantitative research was conducted using semi-structured interviews and structured survey questionnaires to determine farmers’ willingness to adopt selected alternative innovations as well as the factors influencing their adoption intentions.
Four alternative innovations that can be applied in both vineyards and olive groves to reduce the use of pesticides were selected from other work packages of the project. The selected innovations broadly involve Smart farming (e.g. smart canopy characterization), Robotics (e.g. Robot with mowing end- effector), Alternative treatment methods (e.g. Bio-solutions) and Improved soil management (e.g. Cover crop with floral margins) that have been designed and their effectiveness and efficacy tested by partners of the project.
