Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) are more complex to properly manage than specialized farming systems due to multiple interactions between crops, livestock, and grassland. Despite individual and structural barriers to adopting sustainable ICLS, some innovative producers have successfully conducted integrated production practices. In this context, a research gap exists in understanding the motivations and incentives for transitioning to such systems. This study aims to address ICLS adoption barriers by analyzing the trajectory, achievements, and thought processes of 15 producers practicing ICLS. Our objectives were to (1) highlight producers’ perceptions of ICLS levers and barriers and (2) identify turning point factors that enabled producers to overcome the barriers. We used a unique set of cases in three continental regions (southern Brazil, the northern Great Plains region in the United States, and southern France) and conducted semi-structured interviews. Interviewees emphasized that ICLS imply dealing with barriers ranging from mindset change to operational adaptations, but they also emphasized the rewarding nature of ICLS when properly managed. All their trajectories had important turning points, such as programs or initiatives, human influence, and broader social and economic reasons that resulted in shifts in their production practices and thought processes. The cases also highlighted that integrating crops and livestock positively impacted family producers’ business outcomes, soil health, and livelihood options. Still, individual barriers, including operational management, and structural barriers, including stakeholder awareness and commitment, must be overcome. Encouraging initiatives that offer a systemic approach and promote knowledge exchange can address part of ICLS adoption barriers. Initiatives must embrace a broader innovation ecosystem, having extension teams in close contact with researchers and stakeholders to assist producers in providing support for a more sophisticated level of management that ICLS require. Overall, we found commonalities in consciousness and proactiveness in remarkable cases that could inspire broader sustainability transitions.

由于农作物、牲畜和草地之间存在多种相互作用，农作物-牲畜综合系统（ICLS）比专门的农业系统更难以正确管理。尽管采用可持续 ICLS 存在个体和结构性障碍，但一些创新生产商已经成功地进行了综合生产实践。在这种背景下，在理解向此类系统过渡的动机和诱因方面存在研究空白。本研究旨在通过分析 15 名生产者实践 ICLS 的轨迹、成就和思维过程来解决 ICLS 采用障碍。我们的目标是 (1) 强调生产商对 ICLS 杠杆和障碍的看法，以及 (2) 确定使生产商能够克服障碍的转折点因素。我们在三个大陆地区（巴西南部、美国北部大平原地区和法国南部）使用了一组独特的案例，并进行了半结构化访谈。受访者强调，ICLS 意味着要应对从思维方式改变到操作适应等各种障碍，但他们也强调，如果管理得当，ICLS 会带来回报。他们的所有轨迹都有重要的转折点，例如计划或举措、人类影响以及更广泛的社会和经济原因，这些因素导致了他们的生产实践和思维过程的转变。这些案例还强调，作物和牲畜的结合对家庭生产者的业务成果、土壤健康和生计选择产生了积极影响。尽管如此，还必须克服包括运营管理在内的个人障碍和包括利益相关者意识和承诺在内的结构性障碍。鼓励提供系统方法并促进知识交流的举措可以解决部分 ICLS 采用障碍。计划必须拥抱更广泛的创新生态系统，让推广团队与研究人员和利益相关者密切联系，以协助生产者为 ICLS 所需的更复杂的管理水平提供支持。总体而言，我们在一些杰出案例中发现了意识和主动性方面的共性，这些共性可以激发更广泛的可持续发展转型。