The key messages from the policy brief include:
- The diversification of cropping systems is still limited due to barriers occurring at the farm level, along value chains as well as in the coordination between actors.
- Different barriers affect niche and mainstream value chains.
- Future policies should address barriers using a systems approach and should differentiate between innovations in niche and mainstream value chains.
- Barriers can be addressed by monitoring the uptake of crop diversification, reallocating public and private resources towards agroecological practices and value chains based on mi-nor crops, providing financial support to actor networks to mitigate innovation risks, and communication campaigns to promote minor crops.
Further information
Zenodo.org: Recommendations for overcoming barriers to crop diversification towards sustainable agriculture