As Europe faces increasing water scarcity, prolonged droughts, and growing pressure on agricultural resources, sustainable irrigation is becoming more important than ever. Innovative irrigation practices and technologies offer opportunities to improve water efficiency, strengthen agricultural resilience, and support more sustainable farming systems. However, their successful adoption depends on more than technological availability.
A new scientific publication, titled “Perceived Barriers and Drivers for Adoption of Sustainable Irrigation Practices and Technologies: Insights from Farmers and Agricultural Advisors”, explores the factors influencing the uptake of sustainable irrigation solutions across Europe.
Published in Sustainability, a peer-reviewed scientific journal by MDPI, the study brings together researchers from the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) en Synelixis. It provides valuable insights into how farmers and agricultural advisors perceive the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting sustainable irrigation practices and technologies (SIPTs).
Understanding the Challenges Behind Adoption
The research draws on survey responses from 106 farmers and 58 agricultural advisors across six European countries, offering perspectives from two groups closely involved in agricultural decision-making.
The findings reveal that financial and administrative challenges remain significant obstacles to adopting sustainable irrigation solutions. High initial investment costs, limited access to capital, and bureaucratic procedures can discourage farmers from implementing new technologies, even when their potential benefits are recognised.
These challenges highlight the importance of creating supportive conditions that make sustainable irrigation technologies more accessible and practical for agricultural stakeholders.
Climate Resilience as a Key Motivation
Despite these barriers, the study also identifies important motivations encouraging farmers to explore sustainable irrigation solutions.
Climate change adaptation and drought resilience emerge as key drivers, reflecting the growing need to manage water resources more efficiently under increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions.
For farmers, sustainable irrigation is not simply about introducing new equipment. It is also about improving their ability to respond to water shortages, protect agricultural productivity, and maintain long-term farm sustainability.
Agricultural advisors can play an important role in this transition by helping farmers understand available technologies, evaluate their suitability, and make informed management decisions.
Connecting Research with GEORGIA’s Vision
The publication’s findings are closely aligned with the objectives of the GEORGIA project, which aims to strengthen European agriculture’s resilience to drought through innovative, sustainable, and data-driven irrigation approaches.
Understanding the barriers and motivations influencing technology adoption is essential for ensuring that innovative solutions respond to real agricultural needs.
By highlighting both practical challenges and opportunities, the research contributes to a broader understanding of how sustainable irrigation practices can become more widely adopted across Europe.
Ultimately, advancing sustainable irrigation requires not only technological innovation but also financial accessibility, effective knowledge exchange, and stronger support for farmers and agricultural advisors.
Read the full scientific publication:
Perceived Barriers and Drivers for Adoption of Sustainable Irrigation Practices and Technologies
