How much do extension agents and advisors value agroecology in different countries? Contributions to the understanding of their potential role in scaling up agroecology

ABSTRACT

In this study, we analyze the production orientation (agroecological or conventional) of extension workers from nine countries in three continents, based on a questionnaire. We acknowledge the potential of extension workers as multipliers of an agroecological approach and as a way of scaling up agroecology. Results show that almost half of the participants support an agroecological approach, and with a higher frequency than the institutions they work for. Variables such as country (with their different historical contexts), objectives of extension practice, gender, age and years of experience influence the production approach of extension workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Agroecology
• conventional agriculture
• agricultural extension
• advisory services
• regression analysis
• multipliers

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the University of La Cuenca del Plata (Argentina) and by the Amazonas Research Support Foundation (Brazil), and supported by the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)

Declaration of interest statement

The author(s) declare that they have no conflict of interest

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of La Cuenca del Plata [Resolution 132/19]; Amazonas Research Support Foundation [--].