The question of limiting the use of synthetic pesticides and selling locally in agriculture is a central issue that gathers both public and private requirements. Indeed, it has become a topic of particular interest for researchers in multiple fields of research. As an illustration, the ECOPHYTO PUMAT (Pour un maraîchage attractif : le cas de la tomate en Martinique) project was launched with the aim of promoting safe and local vegetable farming in Martinique. Indeed, the horticultural farming systems are evolving rapidly with simultaneous challenges: stringent norms and standards and new marketing channels. However, to this date, local production only supplies about 40% of the total demand in Martinique. To our knowledge, this issue has not been studied in the French overseas, which justifies this project and the associated doctoral considered. To identify the stakes and levers for such a challenge, we need tangible data that are representative of farms in all their diversity, including farming and marketing practices. We also need to understand how these farms interact with their environment. In this context, we will present our theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches.