The BioValue Project is proud to share an exciting new publication: “Underutilized Crops for Diversified Agri-Food Systems: Spatial Modeling and Farmer Adoption of Buckwheat in Italy.” This study, conducted by Marta Verza and a team of esteemed researchers from multiple institutions across Europe, explores the potential of integrating underutilized crops like buckwheat into Italian agricultural systems to enhance biodiversity, improve sustainability, and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
Why Underutilized Crops Matter
Modern agri-food systems have increasingly shifted towards monoculture practices, leading to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and increased vulnerability to climate change. However, introducing neglected and underutilized plant species (NUPs) into crop rotations offers a promising solution. Buckwheat, a resilient and highly nutritious crop, presents a sustainable alternative that could enhance soil health, increase farm profitability, and contribute to climate-resilient food systems.
What the Study Examined
This research evaluates farmers’ adoption of buckwheat in Italy using a spatial agent-based model (ABM), which simulates decision-making based on profit maximization, peer influence, and economic viability. The study analyzed two key factors:
✅ Adoption Scenarios – Comparing traditional and expansion scenarios for buckwheat adoption.
✅ Willingness to Adopt – Assessing the impact of farmers’ willingness to integrate buckwheat into their crop rotations.
✅ Profitability Comparisons – Evaluating the financial returns of traditional rotations vs. rotations including buckwheat across nine Italian regions.
Key Findings
🔹 Financial incentives alone are not enough to encourage widespread buckwheat adoption—particularly among farmers with low willingness to adopt.
🔹 Peer influence and intrinsic motivation play a crucial role in farmers’ decision-making.
🔹 Contract price increases can incentivize adoption but must be complemented by knowledge-sharing and educational outreach programs.
🔹 Supply chain integration and policy support are essential for ensuring long-term success in underutilized crop adoption.
What This Means for the Future of Sustainable Agriculture
The study highlights the need for multi-faceted policies that go beyond financial support. To successfully integrate underutilized crops like buckwheat into mainstream agriculture, efforts should focus on:
Strengthening farmer networks to encourage peer influence and community adoption.
Developing policies that support diverse crop systems for ecological and economic resilience.
Investing in educational programs to inform farmers about the benefits of underutilized crops.
Enhancing supply chain collaboration to create a stable market for NUPs.
By embracing biodiversity in agriculture, we can move towards more sustainable, resilient, and climate-smart food systems that benefit both farmers and consumers.
Read the full study here: Underutilized crops for diversified agri-food systems: spatial modeling and farmer adoption of buckwheat in Italy
