Identifying barriers and opportunities for transitions towards more sustainable agriculture through system analysis: the case of Vereda La Hoya, Colombia
The paper presents the results of studies which investigated farmers’ reasoning and behaviour with
regards to the mis‐use of personal protective equipment and pesticide among smallholders in Colombia. First,
the research approach is described. In particular, the structured mental models approach and the integrative
agent‐centred framework are presented. These approaches permit to understand the farmers’ reasoning and
behaviour in a system perspective. Second, the results are summarized. The methods adopted allowed not only
for identifying the factors, but also the social dynamics influencing farmers. Finally, suggestions for
interventions are provided, which are not limited to a technical fix, but address the underlying social causes of
the problem
