Motivations to adopt Agroecology in rural communities of the Northern Andes of Ecuador

Agroecology (AE) is a discipline of study that is consistently expanding in the scientific, sociopolitical, and environmental fields, both globally and regionally in Latin America. This study focuses on understanding the dynamics and diversity of motivations that farmers have when deciding whether to adopt AE or not in the Northern Andes of Ecuador. Using mixed methods, we described the historical evolution of the perceptions of agroecological practitioners and external agents regarding the motivations, incentives, compensations, and expectations they had. This study discusses the nature and dynamics of motivations using sustainability as a transversal axis to assess responses. We worked with a proportionally similar number of indigenous and mestizo farmers who declared to have an interest in the study and had access to a piece of land for agroecological production. This study reveals convergences and divergences of perceptions among stakeholders about the different strategies used by external agencies to address AE and rural extension. The types and levels of participation throughout the historical evolution of AE showed low participation of farmers in the early stages, associated with planning; however, there was a steady increase in farmer participation in the stages associated with hands-on activities. In general, there is very little motivation for agroecological food production among youth and men, whereas younger rural men and women feel more motivated to work on agribusiness export projects such as the cut-flower industry.