National workshop report on actor perspectives on behavioural drivers, agency and behaviour change in agroecological transformation

Abstract

The creation and validation of the timeline reveals four critical changes over the last 30 years: 1.1990-2010: Influence of Leader Farmers (Type 1): Large, influential farmers were critical because of their ability to take risks based on their social, physical, and financial assets. They partnered with national projects such as the PADAC project, which focused on conservation agriculture, and were models or inspirations for neighboring farmers. The emergence of the Groupements de Développement Agricole (GDAs), cooperative-like organizations heavily dependent on the agricultural administration, also marked this period; 2. The development of the Sociétés Mutuelles de Services Agricoles (SMSAs): The creation of SMSAs allowed small and medium farmers to participate in business activities, marking a shift towards economic valorization through market-oriented projects. The farmers involved and active in the SMSA became known as "farmers linked to markets" (type 2); 3. mid-2010s: Emergence of entrepreneurs with access to credit (Type 3): A new class of entrepreneurial farmers emerged, driven by access to credit and a focus on business growth. They actively sought new business models and partnerships, motivated by market and financial opportunities; 4. Recent years: Knowledge co-creators (Type 4): Linked to social and solidarity economy movements, a new group of farmers began to co-create knowledge. These farmers played a central role in shaping agricultural practices and policies in collaboration with researchers and a variety of other stakeholders. The Participatory Timeline captures the evolving roles of different stakeholder groups in decision-making and agency. In particular, the Participatory Timeline highlights the shift toward participatory and collaborative models in which smallholder and medium-scale farmers play an active role in knowledge-sharing platforms, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity. In addition, newer initiatives consider environmental and social impacts, suggesting a continued evolution toward models that balance economic and environmental considerations, reflecting an adaptive response to past program limitations. Farmers, referred to as "co-creators of knowledge," are demonstrating a willingness to actively collaborate and are driving agroecological practices and market-oriented product development. They are critical to understanding the impact of participatory models and community-led innovation in the transition to agroecology.