What matters most in determining European farmers’ participation in agri-environmental measures? A systematic review of the quantitative literature

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 140, P. 107094 - 107094

Published: Feb. 14, 2024

Successful implementation of Europe's agri-environmental policies faces various obstacles, several which are closely linked to participation. Effectively increasing adoption agri-environmental-climate measures (AECM) requires a deeper understanding farmers' motives. Various case-study research has targeted ex-post studies but offers context-specific recommendations. Earlier literature reviews provide certain insights, have not yet clarified how the evidence on can be optimally applied AECM design. We explore farmer decision-making by synthetizing results from three decades empirical in Europe. Our approach applies theoretically informed participation framework that practical insights for systematically scrutinize different stage-specific constructs, grouped into 'alignment', 'opportunity', 'engagement', and 'contracting', influence decisions. identify eight determinants 38 variables capturing their contribution decision-making. Variables explaining role social contexts satisfaction with contract design seldom observed prove significant around 60 percent cases. Conversely, relevance farmers opportunity frequently included, often ineffective uptake. Enhancing alignment needs encourages adoption, excessive carries risk self-selection bias toward baseline-complying agents, likely jeopardizes additionality. findings highlight crucial it is properly account costs bias. draw policy-makers' attention importance carefully considering all four constructs during 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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Development and Effects of Organic Farms in Poland, Taking into Account Their Location in Areas Facing Natural or Other Specific Constraints

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 297 - 297

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Organic farms should, by definition, place particular emphasis on the protection of agricultural soils, landscape care and activities aimed at producing high-quality products. However, when joining this production system, face many challenges in order to make these contributions society expected level. The main aim study is determine scale disproportions effects achieved between organic conventional systems, taking into account quality natural management conditions. An equally important goal factors Polish agriculture that whether conduct system. paper aims indicate direction development farming EU, including Poland, based Eurostat data for 2012–2020. It was noted current sector EU member states has been different rates. In its strength largely depends presence ANCs. Nearly ¾ utilized area (UAA) located communes with a large share them. achieve lower comparison farms, their also depend personal competences farmers are an determinant farming.

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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Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in a Carbon Sequestration Program – A Discrete Choice Experiment

Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 74(2), P. 332 - 349

Published: March 21, 2024

Abstract Farmers can counteract global warming by drawing carbon dioxide from the air into agricultural soils building up humus. Humus programs were developed to motivate farmers for even more humus formation (= sequestration) through an additional financial incentive. These are still at early stage of development, which is why number participating and research work low. This study first analyze willingness German participate in hypothetical programs. The results a discrete choice experiment show that (higher) threshold payout premium, regional (rather than field-specific) reference values, risk repayment clearly discourage participating. Program providers must double premium (set around 240 € per hectare 0.1% increase) maintain farmers’ despite threshold. Regional values premium/repayment system would lead increase 20 order keep same level. motivation build humus, desire maximize subsidies, higher livestock density have positive influence on decision participate. Farm size attitude impact preferences program design. relevant policymakers non-governmental organizations concerned with management, as our findings highlight pathways efficient, targeted designs sequestration policies.

Language: Английский

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Adoption and potential of agri‐environmental schemes in Europe: Cross‐regional evidence from interviews with farmers

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(5), P. 1610 - 1621

Published: Aug. 17, 2023

Abstract In Europe and elsewhere, agri‐environmental schemes (AES) are designed to reduce agriculture's impacts on the environment. Designing effective requires an understanding of reasons that drive farmers' decisions whether adopt AES. Currently, most insights come from individual case studies or structured surveys based predefined questions. There is a paucity do not rely rigid preconceptions about relevant behavioural factors while also offering geographically socio‐culturally broad perspective can address cultural institutional context‐specificity studies. Also, focus adoption decision, implementation their consequences for ecological effectiveness AES remain understudied. this article, we present results semi‐structured farmer interviews conducted in five agricultural landscapes across Europe. The used uncover as well implications effectiveness. main reason was common study regions interplay opportunity costs payment levels, which has negative farmers prioritized marginal land adopted non‐additional Among vary regions, tenure relations role reasoning stand out. We find unlikely trigger broader shifts towards sustainable management but there some potential improvement, mainly by increasing flexibility, spatial targeting ambition schemes. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Agricultural soils in climate change mitigation: comparing action-based and results-based programmes for carbon sequestration

Climatic Change, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 177(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Abstract Removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is a major challenge for today’s society. A great source of potential gas sequestration beneath our feet: agricultural soil. By accumulating soil organic carbon in soil, farmers can sequester dioxide and simultaneously reach soils more resilient to extreme weather events. To encourage build up humus thus carbon, some programmes have been developed by non-governmental organisations. In this regard, action-based reward systems are on their way challenging established results-based approaches. Against background, we analyse how approaches, as well other crucial features programmes, affect farmers’ willingness participate programme. We conducted Discrete-Choice-Experiment analysed it using mixed logit model. The results show that statistically significant preference shorter programme durations, higher incentives, an annual government-funded payment. More specifically, farmer participation twice likely if formation rewarded action rather than results. willingness-to-accept calculation indicates would cost funding agency about €20 per ton sequestered Above all, with approach payments increase participate. Our contribute development targeted policies soils.

Language: Английский

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Charting water quality improvements and practice reversion with pesticide interventions at catchment scale

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 960, P. 178243 - 178243

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Connecting habitats in European agricultural landscapes: Farmers’ spatial preferences for linear wildlife corridors

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 258, P. 105325 - 105325

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Predicting adoption of agri-environmental schemes by farmers in the European Union

PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4(3), P. e0000162 - e0000162

Published: March 3, 2025

Much of the land across European Union (EU) is threatened by unsustainable land-use through intensive farming. To help combat this, Agri-Environmental Schemes (AESs) are provided EU to encourage farmers use a portion their aid with environmental goals such as sustainable farming, bio-diversity or landscape recovery. Farmers in given opportunity take on an AES for monetary payment that based choice scheme and amount dedicated it. If we know can accurately predict which adopt AES, then if intended benefits environment according likely be achieved. As preliminary step, develop generalised linear model coupled microsimulation fed data from Farm Accountancy Data Network uptake. We find able approximately 70% farmers’ decisions whether 27 countries EU. In future, this used predict, example, chosen schemes adopted will lead benefits, changes offered may affect adoption.

Language: Английский

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