Stakeholder participatory mapping of perceived barriers to pesticide reduction in Cyprus

Background

Pesticides are important for crop protection and agricultural productivity, but misuse poses public health risks. Resistance to EU pesticide reduction policies points to gaps between policy ambitions and farming realities. Research often focuses on farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes, offering limited theory-informed insight into wider factors shaping practices. This two-phase study examined perceived barriers to sustainable pesticide use in Cyprus.

Methods

In phase 1, barriers were mapped onto the COM-B model during a stakeholder workshop with 36 participants from competent authorities, academia and farmers’ unions. In Phase 2, a 51-item online questionnaire assessed perceived importance of these barriers on a 4-point scale (1 = not very to 4 = extremely important) and asked participants to nominate five actions with highest potential impact.

Results

All but 13 items were rated as at least very important by > 70% of participants. Top-rated (‘extremely important’) were: perceived health impacts on farmers and families, lack of comprehensive agricultural policy, limited guidance and support and competition with lower-cost imports, including inflow from areas not under the Republic’s control. Lack of evidence on consumer preferences in relation to cost was ranked lowest (12%), suggesting underestimation of demand-side influences. Top nominated actions were: improving farmers’ knowledge on health impacts and alternatives, targeted training and advisory support, addressing product inflow and production costs.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of farmers’ knowledge and procedural skills, alongside system-level constraints, reflecting insufficient practical support and feasible alternatives. In a climate of mistrust towards authorities, participatory approaches are a governance necessity. Future work should extend engagement with the farming community and integrate system-level insights into policy and practice.

Key messages

• Farmers’ awareness, knowledge and procedural skills are important, but sustainable pesticide use also requires targeted, context-specific support and system-level change.

• In a climate of mistrust in national and EU authorities, participatory approaches are a governance necessity to enhance transparency, identify system barriers and co-design action.