Unlocking agroecology: A meta-analytical perspective on barriers and drivers

Agroecology applies ecological principles to the design and management of agri-food systems. Yet its adoption at the farm level remains limited, despite becoming a prominent approach to addressing these systems’ sustainability challenges. Although a growing body of literature analyses the factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt agroecological practices, comprehensive quantitative syntheses are still scarce. This study assesses factors influencing farmers’ adoption of agroecological practices by conducting a quantitative meta-analysis and meta-regressions of 29 European econometric studies, selected following the PRISMA methodology. The results indicated that older age and dependence on farm income emerged as main barriers, whereas schooling level, training, and participation in agricultural organisations are consistent key drivers. The estimated effects of subsidies were small and inconsistent; similar patterns were found for farm size, livestock, family labour, and gender. While the evidence is exclusively European, limiting generalizability to other regions with different tenure regimes and policy and culture contexts, our findings point to the value of pairing education and training with the development of social capital and promoting farm income diversification. Together, these strategies can accelerate the transition toward agroecology.