Food system strategies to increase grain legume-cereal intercropping in Europe
Intercropping has garnered renewed attention in Europe as an agroecological practice to enhance environmental sustainability. Interest in plant-based proteins by increasing human consumption of legumes is gaining traction. Legume-cereal intercropping for dual seed production could offer environmental and economic advantages. However, barriers hinder widespread adoption by farmers. This study analyzes the results of seven focus groups with 220 diverse stakeholders. Barriers, enabling factors, and strategies for the adoption of grain legume-cereal intercropping were assessed to determine food system transition strategies. The five strategies for intercropping support related to farm, food, advice, governance, and network systems. Farmer-led, institutionally supported, and research-informed advice systems, effective governance, and increased networking would enable strategic pathways for regional food and feed production through intercropping.
Authors
- Jorge Álvaro‐Fuentes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0192-7954)
- Juan Carlos García‐Gil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2308-7260)
- J. B. Alford
- César Plaza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8616-7001)
- Jim Rasmussen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6537-2540)
- Shamina Imran Pathan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5177-2866)
- María José Carpio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1752-9608)
- Martin Hvarregaard Thorsøe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7283-7174)
- Tiffanie F. Stone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1705-086X)
- Magdalena Frąc (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9437-3139)
- Juliana Trindade Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5391-0118)
- Ahmed H. El-Naggar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2415-6339)
- Mohammad A. M. Eisa
- Petra Hanáková Bečvářová
- Kasper Krabbe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7829-3039)
- Cosimo Righini
Institutions
- Ain Shams University (EG)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Soil Association (GB)
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ES)
- Istituto storico italiano per il Medio Evo (IT)
- Agritec (Czechia) (CZ)
- Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (ES)
- International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (AE)
- University of Florence (IT)
- Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
- Published
- 2024-11-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2024.2427783
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.84
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation