Behind tractor protest: rethinking the CAP and the future of sustainability transition

Purpose This study aims to investigate the underlying causes of the 2024 European farmer protests, with a particular focus on the role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in balancing sustainability goals with economic viability. By analysing the perspectives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the research explores the challenges faced by farmers in adopting sustainability measures, the policy gaps that contribute to agricultural discontent and potential solutions for a more integrated approach to sustainability transitions. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was employed, based on semi-structured interviews with farmers and stakeholders across multiple European countries. The analysis was guided by the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework, which interprets farmers' resistance as regime-level inertia in response to landscape pressures and niche innovations. Findings The results indicate that while farmers recognize the importance of sustainability, many perceive the CAP as overly bureaucratic, economically unsustainable and inadequately tailored to SMEs, which face significant barriers in accessing and effectively utilizing European policy tools for innovation, often finding themselves excluded from funding benefits and ecological transition opportunities. Consequently, there is a pressing need for more structured, co-participatory solutions designed around their specific needs, incorporating phase-out mechanisms, managerial training and alternative transition pathways that balance sustainability with economic resilience. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature on sustainability transitions in agriculture by offering a bottom-up perspective on policy resistance, framed within the MLP approach and bridging the gap between socio-technical innovation and agricultural policy.