Exploring drivers and levels of technology adoption for ecological intensification of pastoral systems in north Patagonia drylands

Although pastoral systems make a significant contribution to food security, they are also pointed out as being responsible for substantial environmental impact. Ecological intensification through process- rather than input-based technologies has been proposed means achieve economic, environmental, and social win-win situations. We studied structural diversity, technology adoption, farmer´s strategies, functional attributes (productivity, reproductive efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, diversification, self-sufficiency) of in North Patagonia based on interviews 70 farms with the following objectives: (a) analyze farm characteristics drivers adoption ecological intensification, (b) describe their association farmers´ livelihood (c) explore trade-offs synergies among attributes. An ongoing was revealed towards animal´s welfare, survival, overall systems´ on-farm produced feed (self-sufficiency), product promoting nutrient re-cycling within boundaries. Four types were differentiated by access information exchange channels, which together labor determined strategies. The main strategy family that exhibited low no hired labor, intermediate information, diversification products or incomes. Larger farms, had an entrepreneurial increasing production efficiencies. Enteric emission intensity per unit area meat (Spearman ρ = 0.87; Y 0.459 X + 0.352; R 2 0.95), reproduction efficiency 0.51; −0.013 1.612; 0.28), respectively. Improving individual animal instead is encouraged prevent overgrazing land degradation, searching win-win’s between mitigation livestock production. • relies autonomy diversification. Access channels available influence adoption. Two strategies found: specialization vs. GHG both trade-offs. pathways led production-emission synergies.