Spatial heterogeneity inherent in the biophysical and socioeconomic landscape has not been properly addressed by social scientists or policy makers. We identify a potentially serious problem underlying contemporary technical and institutional innovations designed to address pollution from agrochemicals. Modern resource conserving technologies are being designed for and technical support services are being supplied most effectively to that portion of the farm sector operating in areas with, relatively speaking, more robust, less susceptible ecosystems. These sites not only have better buffering capacity, but farmers operating in these areas are likely to be already engaged in relatively sophisticated management. In those areas featuring a more fragile resource base, farmers are likely to be less efficient and have access to less advanced support services. These relationships suggest a critical spatial mismatch between ecological risks (needs) and capacity to implement ecosystem-conserving strategies (remedial resources). We find a pressing need to develop spatial complementarity between public and private sector investments.

* Presentation is based on Wolf, S. and P. Nowak. 1999. Institutional failure and agro-environmental management. Pp. 293-310 in Research in Social Problems and Public Policy. W. Freudenberg and T. Youn (eds.), Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.