Digital innovations for sustainable and resilient agricultural systems

European Review of Agricultural Economics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 50(4), P. 1277 - 1309

Published: June 27, 2023

Abstract Digitalisation is rapidly transforming the agri-food sector. This paper investigates emerging opportunities, challenges and policy options. We show that digital innovations can contribute to more sustainable resilient agricultural systems. For example, enable increased productivity, reduced environmental footprints higher resilience of farms. However, these optimistic outcomes increasing digitalisation sector will not emerge on their own, but this development comes with several challenges, costs risks, e.g. in economic, social ethical dimensions. provide recommendations explore opportunities avoid risks. Moreover, we discuss implications for future research economics.

Language: Английский

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The role of behavioural factors and opportunity costs in farmers' participation in voluntary agri‐environmental schemes: A systematic review

Journal of Agricultural Economics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74(3), P. 617 - 660

Published: March 23, 2023

Abstract Agri‐environmental schemes (AESs) are increasingly implemented to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly practices by farmers. We use a systematic review explore role behavioural factors and opportunity costs in farmers' decisions participate AESs Australia, Europe North America. Behavioural influence how farmers value perceive options, while relate forgone utility when choosing schemes. synthesise insights from 79 articles over 700 explaining participation AESs. find that set seem consistently connected participation, including agricultural training, advice having positive attitudes towards Moreover, several related also have rather consistent relationship with AES market conditions, implementation efforts, profitability, management contract flexibility. However, many relationships not as generalizable sometimes portrayed require context‐specific interpretation. Those mixed results can still provide into them either ‘positively insignificantly’ or ‘negatively such environmental attitude, trust farm size. These suggest their depends on other setting, highlighting interactions raising important new research questions. Overall, our entry points for both researchers policy‐makers, uncertainties between should be considered designing policies.

Language: Английский

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Effects of management practices on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of temperate grasslands

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: May 7, 2024

Human wellbeing depends on ecosystem services, highlighting the need for improving ecosystem-service multifunctionality of food and feed production systems. We study Swiss agricultural grasslands to assess how employing combining three widespread aspects grassland management their interactions can enhance 22 plot-level service indicators, as well multifunctionality. The we are i) organic system, ii) an eco-scheme prescribing extensive (without fertilization), iii) harvest type (pasture vs. meadow). While system between play a minor role, main effects considerably shape single services. Moreover, 'extensive management' 'pasture' plot-scale multifunctionality, mostly through facilitating cultural services at expense provisioning These changes in supply occur mainly via land-use intensity, i.e., reduced fertilizer input frequency. In conclusion, diversifying where this is currently homogeneous across farms landscapes depicts important first step improve landscape-scale sustainable To meet societal demand, studied be systematically combined increase that short supply.

Language: Английский

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Promotion of adopting preventive behavioral intention toward biodiversity degradation among Iranian farmers

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43, P. e02450 - e02450

Published: March 30, 2023

In recent years, biodiversity in Iran has been exposed to serious threats due the farmers' unordinary behaviors, including extensive use of chemicals, land-use changes, and destruction natural habitats. The basic concept present research is discover underlying constructs intention conserve at farm level. This adopts Theory Planned Behavior (TPB) uses its extended version, which moral norms environmental concerns have included, as theoretical framework. this study, data collection done by survey method through a questionnaire that analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling technique (SEM). target population consists all farmers from Bavi County Khuzestan province southwest Iran. findings indicated variables, attitude (γ: 0.164 Sig: 0.001), perceived behavioral control 0.136 subjective 0.278 0.292 0.192 significant positive effect on towards protection. addition, it was shown version TPB can improve capacity explain 22%. Based results, were identified main influencing factor, concluded policymakers emphasize construct promote safe behaviors for conserving

Language: Английский

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Participation in individual and collective agri-environmental schemes: A synthesis using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Journal of Rural Studies, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 107, P. 103255 - 103255

Published: March 12, 2024

Understanding the behavioural factors that influence farmers' intentions to participate in agri-environmental schemes is crucial for delivering sustainability agricultural landscapes. Drawing on a qualitative synthesis approach, we seek understand underlying motivations behind decisions engage with individual as well collective schemes. We systematically map evidence decision-making using an expanded Theory of Planned Behaviour framework, incorporating trust and legitimacy elements. Our analysis highlights role farmer attitudes Subjective norms influenced by farming community, policy-making processes, were determining participation Normative legitimacy, contract complexity inflexibility, financial non-financial outcome beliefs, key barriers both types Based our findings, recommend prioritizing interventions foster institutional relational trust. Low levels are linked caused subjective Creating opportunities social interactions learning can be essential capital Policy development should acknowledge potential relevance broader community context shaping farmer's attitudes, particularly its overcoming cognitive improve

Language: Английский

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The effect of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity: Evidence from Switzerland

American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Abstract We estimate the effects of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity using a unique dataset containing information about plant vegetation. The data include surveyed species for large number randomly selected plots followed over period 20 years in Switzerland. In our estimation, we utilize difference‐in‐discontinuities approach based exogenous variation triggered by (i) policy reform Switzerland that led to considerable increase was uncertain prior implementation and (ii) an administrative threshold defines eligibility payment depending botanical quality. find were almost eligible before but not already satisfied criteria. Our findings have important implications design payments.

Language: Английский

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Culture and agricultural biodiversity conservation

Food Policy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120, P. 102482 - 102482

Published: July 4, 2023

Farmers' behavior towards sustainable agricultural production is key to reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and conserving biodiversity. We investigate causal effect culture on pro-environmental behaviors farmers, how policy instruments interact with influence behavior. exploit a unique natural experiment in Switzerland, which consists two parts. First, there an inner-Swiss cultural border between German- French-speaking farmers who share same environment, economy, institutions, but differ culturally their norms values. Second, we effects agri-environmental reform that increased monetary incentives enroll land into biodiversity conservation. Using spatial difference-in-discontinuities design panel census data all Swiss farms 2010 2017, show following findings: Before reform, side systematically enrolled less conservation, compared German-speaking side. With 2014, relatively more additional than shrinking discontinuity. These findings indicate while exist differences behaviors, can reduce importance differences. discuss implications for policy.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Services at the Farm Level—Overview, Synergies, Trade‐Offs, and Stakeholder Analysis

Global Challenges, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(7)

Published: April 27, 2023

Abstract The current geological epoch is characterized by anthropogenic activity that greatly impacts on natural ecosystems and their integrity. complex networks of ecosystem services (ESs) are often ignored because the provision resources, such as food industrial crops, mistakenly viewed an independent process separate from ignoring ecosystems. Recently, research has intensified how to evaluate manage ES minimize environmental impacts, but it remains unclear balance This paper reviews main ESs at farm level including provisioning, regulating, habitat, cultural services. For these ESs, synergies outlined evaluated along with respective practices (e.g., cover‐ intercropping) suppliers pollinators biocontrol agents). Further, several farm‐level trade‐offs discussed a proposal for evaluation. Finally, framework stakeholder approaches specific put forward, outlook existing precision agriculture technologies can be adapted improved assessment bundles. believed provide useful both decision makers stakeholders facilitate development more sustainable resilient farming systems.

Language: Английский

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Incentives, Rewards or Both in Payments for Ecosystem Services: Drawing a Link Between Farmers' Preferences and Biodiversity Levels

Ecological Economics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 213, P. 107954 - 107954

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

Language: Английский

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Collaborative approaches at the landscape scale increase the benefits of agri-environmental measures for farmland biodiversity

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 367, P. 108948 - 108948

Published: March 12, 2024

Ecological focus areas (EFAs) are a key element of European agri-environmental measures, which aim at mitigating the negative impact intensive agricultural practices on biodiversity. They mostly implemented local scale, such as action-based EFAs (prescribed minimum biodiversity-friendly management) and result-based biodiversity outcome). Implementation landscape scale part collaborative landscape-targeted approach is less frequent. There, farmers given region jointly determine where measures in order to create landscape. The effectiveness three different, but often intertwined approaches promote farmland biodiversity, has hardly ever been studied. To this end, we analyzed data from 121 1-km2 squares distributed across Swiss landscapes. At (10-m2 units), found that plant species richness was higher all EFA categories compared management units outside EFAs, tended be highest EFAs. (1-km2 positively related large total area while butterfly bird were with high share We conclude result-based, especially come along transaction costs, they contribute substantially different spatial scales.

Language: Английский

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