A University of Córdoba study finds organic farming decisions in Andalusia are shaped by profitability, environmental values and social responsibility. The findings may help guide European policies aimed at expanding organic agriculture by 2030.
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A University of Córdoba study finds farmers’ decisions to adopt organic practices are shaped by both profitability and environmental values.
The European Union has set a goal for at least 25% of agricultural land to be farmed using organic or ecological practices by 2030. Andalusia is already well positioned in this shift. More than half of Spain’s organic farming is concentrated in the southern region, making it an important testing ground for policies that support and expand organic agriculture.
Why Farmers Choose Organic
Until now, however, less was known about why farmers choose organic practices over conventional ones. To better understand those decisions, a University of Córdoba research team surveyed about 200 farmers.
The study found that farmers’ choices are shaped not only by profitability, but also by values. Environmental concern and responsibility toward the wider social and agricultural ecosystem were found to be just as important as economic motivations, according to a press release.
“The data reveal a strong balance between what we call the rational, utilitarian, and moral dimensions. In other words, environmental awareness is on par with personal and economic interests,” explained Sandra Sánchez Cañizares, who co-authored the study with Javier Cabeza Ramírez, Miguel González Mohino, and José Antonio López Castro in the University of Córdoba’s Business Organization Department.
Studying Farmers Directly
The study was recently published in the Journal of Environmental Management as part of the project “Designing effective policies for the ecological transition of agriculture. A microeconomic approach,” supported by the Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation.
To gather data, the research team worked with agricultural cooperatives and conducted in-person interviews with about 200 farmers across Andalusia, with a particular focus on Córdoba, Málaga and Seville.
The researchers then analyzed the information using several theoretical models, including the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model and the Norm Activation Model.
Farmers as the Key Decision-Makers
According to Javier Cabeza Ramírez, the study’s main contribution is that it focuses on the farmers themselves rather than only on economic or business factors.
“Most studies on organic farming focus on the type of crop, the business model, or the subsidies received, while overlooking the farmer, who is really the key player,” the researcher stated. In this case, “we have focused on their motivations to better understand the Andalusian context, so that we can export it as a model to other parts of Europe.”
Practical Policies for Organic Agriculture
The findings show that Andalusia’s agricultural sector is diverse, with farmers from different backgrounds and with different relationships to organic production. As Sánchez Cañizares pointed out, “if the European Union wants to promote organic farming, it needs to diversify its policies based on different profiles and needs.”
Supporting Current Organic Farmers
For farmers who have already adopted organic practices, the study suggests policies focused on retention. In these cases, simpler administration and easier procedures could help keep farmers engaged in the organic model.
For farmers who are more hesitant to make the transition, the study recommends a different approach. Policies should appeal to their environmental values while also providing the training, support and technical assistance needed to move toward organic production.
Lessons Beyond Andalusia
Understanding why farmers adopt organic practices is important for building policies that work beyond one region. While Spain is still working toward the European Union’s 2030 organic farming goals, Andalusia stands out with more than 1.4 million hectares dedicated to organic agriculture and may offer useful lessons for other regions.
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