Possible changes in order to solve the pesticides problem : Spanish farmers and fruit exportation companies are looking for a solution

Abstract: The pesticides use has increased in agriculture in Almeria (south-eastern Spain). At the same time the pesticides have become less efficient and rules have been made stricter. The farmers and the fruit exportation companies have to deal with the problem that emerged in November 2006 when residual from illegal pesticides were detected by the EFSA (European Food Safety Agency). As a consequence, the companies and the farmers have had to face the mistrust from the buyers, especially from the biggest market, the German one. The purpose of this thesis is to study how the fruit exportation companies and the farmers analyse the problem of choosing a reliable alternative. The starting point of the study is to see how the decision making process looks like in the five companies in the study. The farmers' way of managing the problem is analysed from the point of view of the learning and changing process. The study is based on interviews made with five companies and eight farmers. The empirical part is presented as case studies divided into different subcategories; "predator companies", the "newly started company" and the "specialized company". One case study about the farmers is also presented. The companies have different ways to face the problem with pesticides. The "predator" companies will promote a new production system based on biological control of plagues that will eliminate all use of pesticides in greenhouses and be effective in the fighting of plagues. The other companies and the farmers who do not try the new methods have a few options, such as producing with pesticides and testing the production in all of the phases. Another option is to specialize in only one product (i.e. tomatoes). The last possible option is to produce organically. The "predator" companies have concluded that the best way to face the problem is to apply the biological control of plagues. They have reached this conclusion based on prior experiences and with good help of the new technologies in matters of biological control. The farmers have looked at the problem from another perspective based on their worries about the profitability of their productions. The farmers have to learn a new method of production that could be the key to success for the agriculture in Almeria.