Promoting excellence or discouraging mediocrity – a policy framework assessment for precision agriculture technologies adoption

Precision Agriculture Technologies (PATs) are providing a great potential in alleviating adverse impacts arising from climate change. This study evaluates the decision-making process of farmers regarding the adoption and implementation of PATs in potato agricultural cooperative in Northern Greece. For this purpose, a bio-economic model utilizing mathematical programming techniques was designed and applied to three different farms producing Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) potato of Kato Nevrokopi. The proposed model aims to incorporate the existing management methods of farming systems and their associated characteristics. Its objective is to analyse the aspirations of farmers to adopt new practices, considering agronomic, environmental, and policy limitations. Special focus was paid to two distinct scenarios: (a) subsiding PATs adopters or (b) penalizing the non-adopters. Results indicated that subsidy provision 594–650€/ha would have a greater impact on PATs profitability. Lastly, based on the results, further explanations of incentives towards promoting the adoption of novel practices, ensuring the long-term viability of agricultural systems, are proposed.