Antecedents and consequences of sustainable development in agriculture and the moderator role of the barriers: Proposal and test of a structural model

Abstract

This study aims to identify the variables measuring the sustainable development in agriculture, its antecedents, barriers and consequences, confirming its factors and testing the relations between them. Having in mind these aims, the research was conducted through three phases. In phase 1, qualitative research was adopted, holding 23 semi-structured interviews with family farmers. Phase 2 and 3 used quantitative research with, respectively, 220 and 219 family farmers. In phase 1, it was possible to verify that sustainable development in agriculture, its antecedents, barriers and consequences. In phase 2, the factors were identified as follows: perception of the sustainable development in agriculture (natural agriculture; innovation and technology; environmental aspects), antecedents (external influences; engagement with sustainability; concern about future generations; environmental motivators; and individual characteristics), barriers (lack of information and knowledge; lack of planning and support), and consequences (socio-environmental benefits; subjective well-being). The results of the structural model demonstrate that the predictors external influences and engagement with sustainability influenced the family farmers’ perception of what sustainable development in agriculture is. The barriers construct (lack of information and knowledge; lack of planning and support) moderate the relationship between external influences and how sustainable development in agriculture is perceived. The constructs of social benefits and feeling of subjective well-being were perceived as consequences of sustainable development in agriculture. This research can be considered innovative by using mixed research methods, in an integrated way, proposing and testing a theoretical model about sustainable development in a family farm context.