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Can Agroforestry Reduce Pesticide Use and Avoid Yield Losses in Viticulture?

Viticulture is highly dependent on chemical pesticides to control pests and fungal diseases, generating environmental externalities and regulatory pressure to reduce input use. This paper examines whether agroforestry can serve as a nature-based substitute by mitigating pest and downy mildew induced yield losses and reducing pesticide reliance. Using plot-level panel data from 51 vineyards in western France (2018–2023), we estimate a nonlinear mixed-effects model combining a production function with a damage function to separately identify input productivity, damage pressure, and the contribution of surrounding trees and hedges (mapped using GIS). Results show that agroforestry significantly reduces pest-induced yield losses and generates positive economic benefits. In contrast, the estimated effect on downy mildew is positive in the damage function—suggesting a potential amplification of downy mildew-related losses—but remains statistically insignificant, indicating substantial uncertainty regarding its role in fungal disease regulation.

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