EcoSiPas Researchers @ Tropentag 2026

The EcoSiPaS team was represented at Tropentag 2026, held from 16 to 18 September in Göttingen, Germany, under the theme “Towards Multi-functional Agro-Ecosystems Promoting Climate-Resilient Futures.” Leonie Schurr presented a poster sharing findings from ongoing research in the Brazilian Cerrado, contributing to discussions with the international scientific community and governmental actors on sustainable agricultural development.

The study examined the factors influencing farmers’ motivation and ability to adopt silvopastoral systems (SPS), drawing on data from 204 farming households in the rural regions of Rio Pardo and Urucuia. Using the Motivation and Ability (MOTA) framework, the research revealed that farm size is a major determinant of farmers’ ability to implement SPS, with smallholders facing greater constraints in income, knowledge and access to machinery. Regional differences were also identified, while motivation emerged as the key factor distinguishing SPS adopters from non-adopters.

These findings highlight that promoting SPS requires more than technical training and improved access to resources. Understanding farmers’ perceptions and motivations, while addressing structural inequalities that constrain their ability to adopt sustainable practices, is essential for developing socially inclusive strategies. The presentation contributed to the broader exchange on multifunctional agroecosystems and pathways towards more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural landscapes in the Cerrado.