Multifunctional agriculture practices and farmers’ perceptions: evidence from western Greece

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine farmers’ perceptions and reported engagement with multifunctional agriculture practices in a specific rural area of Aitoloakarnania, Greece. The study focuses on how different multifunctional activities are perceived in relation to farm-level economic, environmental, and place-based benefits. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on quantitative data collected through farmer questionnaires, focusing on reported agricultural and environmental practices. Cluster analysis is used to identify groups of multifunctional agriculture strategies with similar patterns of perceived importance and expected benefits. In addition, relevant policy documents and academic literature are reviewed to support the interpretation of the empirical findings. Findings The findings indicate that farmers place high importance on local quality products and agri-environmental practices. The cluster analysis identifies two groups of multifunctional strategies: (1) strategies with a strong environmental and social dimension (e.g. agri-environmental practices, landscape maintenance, natural resources), and (2) strategies with an economic and production-oriented focus (e.g. local quality products, cultural heritage, and local events). Research limitations/implications The study was limited to an overview of multifunctionality in the Greek context and to a case study approach using a Municipal District in the prefecture of Aitoloakarnania. While farmers report high levels of perceived importance for multifunctional activities, their participation in related measures remains uneven. This indicates that more targeted policy instruments and economic incentives could enhance farmers’ engagement with multifunctional practices. Originality/value This study addresses a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on farmers’ perceptions and reported participation in multifunctional agriculture practices at the local level, an area that remains relatively underexplored.