The Role of Collective Awareness Platforms in Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices Among a Sample of Greek Farmers

Thomas Kappas, Christina Moulogianni, Evangelia Oikonomou, Georgios Kountios and Thomas Bournaris ()
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Thomas Kappas: Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christina Moulogianni: Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Evangelia Oikonomou: Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Kountios: Department of Agricultural Economics and Entrepreneurship, School of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Thomas Bournaris: Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: The agricultural sector is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices without compromising profitability. A sustainable farm focuses on natural processes and renewable resources rather than on synthetic inputs. Social and digital innovations create new opportunities to address these challenges. Collective Awareness Platforms (CAPs) provide a socio-technical tool designed to encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of sustainable practices among farmers. This research analyzes the potential of CAPs in a part of Greek agriculture based on data gathered from 182 participants in Macedonia and Thessaly. Results indicate that although 97.8% of participants use digital devices, awareness of CAPs remains very limited. Despite that, 51.1% were open to adopting new methods, and CAPs scored impressively high for their potential in knowledge transmission (μ = 4.21). These findings uncover both the potential benefits and challenges we face in integrating CAPs into sustainable farming. Policy implications involve the necessity to improve digital literacy and provide training, supported by European agricultural policies.

Keywords: collective awareness platforms; sustainability; social innovation; farmers; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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