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

Elena Fusar Poli, José Miguel Campos, María Teresa Martínez Ferrer, Ridha Rahmouni, Souad Rouis, Zeynep Yurtkuran and Michele Filippo Fontefrancesco ()
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Elena Fusar Poli: University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Bra, Italy
José Miguel Campos: IRTA, Carretera de Balada, Km 1, 43870 Amposta, Tarragona, Spain
María Teresa Martínez Ferrer: IRTA, Carretera de Balada, Km 1, 43870 Amposta, Tarragona, Spain
Ridha Rahmouni: Citrus Technical Center, Nabeul 8099, Tunisia
Souad Rouis: Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, Sfax 3018, Tunisia
Zeynep Yurtkuran: Biyans Biological Products, 06690 Çankaya, Turkey
Michele Filippo Fontefrancesco: University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Bra, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-22

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.

Keywords: biopesticides; Mediterranean agriculture; sustainable farming; push and pull factors; ecological transition; science and technology studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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