Agriculture

Global population growth has increased food demand, particularly in emerging economies such as Latin America. There, the subsequent increase in livestock production has been a main driver of greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Silvopasture emerges as a promising solution for both economic and environmental sustainability. However, to be successful, cattle ranchers need to implement (set-up) and afterwards adopt (continued use after implementation) silvopasture. Although resources have been invested in the implementation of silvopastoral systems in Colombia, adoption rates remain variable. In this study, we aim to understand the barriers to adoption of silvopasture in Colombia by surveying 182 ranchers who received technical assistance and payment for ecosystem services to implement silvopasture in Colombia. We used survey results and precipitation and temperature data to identify socioeconomic and environmental variables that could explain the varying levels of adoption among ranchers. Our results indicate that high precipitation and temperature during the dry season have a negative impact on adoption. Ranchers who have experienced food insecurity are more likely to adopt while ranchers with larger farms, tractors, and water pumps, all indicators of good economic status, are less likely to adopt silvopastoral applications. Collectively, our data suggests that ranchers facing economic and environmental challenges are more likely to adopt silvopastoral technologies. This highlights the need for future implementation programs to focus on socially and environmentally vulnerable farmers, who stand to benefit the most and are more likely to maintain these practices long-term.