Farmers' adoption of ecological practices: A systematic literature map

Certified organic farming is a suite of regulated practices that can support social, economic, and ecological sustainability in agriculture. Despite the standardization and regulation of certifying bodies, practices adopted by organic farmers vary with potential heterogeneous effects on environmental outcomes. While it is accepted that beliefs can enable or constrain the adoption of farming practices, it remains unclear if variation in organic farmer beliefs mediates observed heterogeneity in practices and the ecology of farms. Communities of soil microorganisms that induce plant resistance and regulate insect herbivores offer a lens to explore the relationship between beliefs and practice adoption. Variation in insect herbivores across organic farms is common but none have studied the role of farmer beliefs in regulating pests through the soil microbiome. Herein, we hypothesized that variation in adoption of microbiome-supportive practices by organic farmers is driven by heterogeneity in their microbiome beliefs. We also investigate the importance of demographic variables and farm characteristics, compared to farmer beliefs, for adoption of practices that support the microbiome. To test our hypothesis, we surveyed the microbiome beliefs, farming practices, and motivations of 85 organic farmers in New York State, USA. We used affinity propagation to cluster farmers by their beliefs, and statistical models to evaluate variation in farming practice adoption and farmer motivations. Our survey received a 30.5% response rate, most organic farmers (≈96%) believed the soil microbiome was important for supporting plant defenses and reducing pests, and <16% believed their farming practices were unimportant for promoting beneficial microbiomes. Seven clusters of farmers were identified that varied in their microbiome beliefs. Among the clusters ≈42% of farmers believed on-farm management and external factors (e.g., climate change) were important for promoting the microbiome. These farmers used fewer pesticides and synthetic mulches, more pre-planting practices (e.g., solarization), and were more motivated to adopt new practices to support the microbiome than their peers. The most important factors motivating adoption were reductions in pests, increased yields, and biodiversity benefits. Beliefs, demographics, and farm characteristics (e.g., time in organic management) were correlated with similar suites of farming practices, but only beliefs predicted farmer motivations. Our study suggests beliefs are key to understanding farmer motivations and promoting organic farming system sustainability via the pest-suppressive microbiome. More broadly, we suggest the need for socio-ecological approaches that account for farmer beliefs when studying the adoption of conservation practices in agroecosystems.

Previous research on investor preferences focused mainly on the relationship between socio-demographic variables and risk tolerance. This study extends the research in this area by focusing on three aspects of investor preferences: risk tolerance, time horizon, and estate intentions. The objective is to provide a more comprehensive model of investor preferences, including both psychological and attitudinal variables. This study addresses the following: Are socio-demographic variables sufficient to predict investor preferences? Is there a difference between males and females? How much additional variance is explained by including political ideology, positive psychology attitudes, and pro-social attitudes? Are these attitudinal variables simply additive or are they interactive? Data were collected from MBA students and senior undergraduate students in a major research university in South Florida. A scale was developed to measure estate intentions, a construct that has never been examined in management studies. The findings supported the expectation that psychological variables would be positively correlated with the dependent variables. However, I expected that pro-social attitudes would be a moderator variable, and this expectation was not realized. This dissertation contributes to the investor preferences field in several ways. First, it demonstrates the importance of psychological and attitudinal variables in explaining investor preferences. I also found differences between males and females regarding risk tolerance. This study can provide financial advisers with a deeper understanding of the importance of psychological and attitudinal variables in determining investor behavior. Finally, the results of this study augment and expand stakeholder theory. This study brings the investor into the stakeholder model, enhancing the descriptive, explanatory, and predictive capabilities of stakeholder theory. Future research could replicate this study using real investors in different locations for cultural variation, or using a panel of respondents for a longitudinal study.

Fruit quality is crucial for nutrition and human health and requires emergent cautions in contemporary agricultural techniques. Ecological farming might not be as successful as conventional management systems; however, it may yield superior quality fruits due to reduced protection treatments. This research aimed to investigate the influence of ecological and conventional farming practices on the physicochemical properties (fruit color, weight, firmness, titratable acidity, total sugar, vitamin C), antioxidant activities, bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, anthocyanin and flavonoids), macroelements composition (N, P, K), and heavy metal concentration (Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu) of the Centenar plum variety soil system under the environmental conditions of Romania. The analysis revealed that ecological farming practice increased the total polyphenol content (3.26–4.52 mg GAE/g of dw) and antioxidant activity (19.53–21.70 µm Trolox/g of dw); however, ecological farming practice supported healthy soils and maintained or built soil organic carbon more substantially (56.68 Mg C ha−1). Moreover, more consistent and vigorous fruit colors were provided by ecological farming practices where small fruits (41 g) were obtained compared to conventional farming (44 g). Among the metal content in plum fruit, Cu had the highest level (0.74–1.07 mg kg−1), while Cd had the lowest (0.003–0.007 mg kg−1). The potential health risk of heavy metals accumulation in orchard soils and their transfer in fruit (MTF) was also analyzed. Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values for all metals were less than 1 (≤1), which is considered to be a safe level with no concern for human health. These results show that plum fruits under ecological farming received improved nutritional values and correspond to sustainable food production through limiting resource competition.

The potential of avocado in Indonesia is very promising, where market needs are far above existing production and supply. This production is directly related to the sustainability of the avocado itself, therefore the sustainability of avocado farming needs to be considered. The sustainability of the farming cannot be separated from the influence of socio-economic factors. The purpose of this study was to determine and measure the influence of socio-economic factors in influencing the sustainability of avocado farming. The research location was carried out purposively, and the location sampling was clustered. The method of determining the sample of respondents using stratified random sampling with a number of 125 avocado farmers. Retrieval of data, both independent and dependent variables, used direct data in the field. The data is scaled using the linkert scale. Data analysis was using path analysis. The results of the path analysis showed that socio-economic factors had an effect on the sustainability of avocado farming, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.35 and p value <0.05. All of these indicators have an effect with each coefficient value of 1.00; 1.12; 1.01; 1.03; 1.04. Based on these data, it can be concluded that social-economic factors in the research area have an influence on sustainability, such as good production will lead to optimal prices, so that with optimal prices, the selling price will also be optimal as well. Likewise, with institutions and counseling, the existence of capital, and good relations between avocado farmers will have a direct effect on production.

The Prevalence of Anxiety and Associated Factors in a Multiracial Sample of Older Adults

The transition to sustainable agriculture is a critical challenge for the U.S. food system. A sustainable food system must support the production of healthy and nutritious food while ensuring economic sustainability for farmers and ranchers. It should also reduce negative environmental impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, and climate, and promote equitable and inclusive access to land, farming resources, and food. This narrative review synthesizes U.S. social science literature to identify the key factors that support or impede the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the U.S. Our analysis reveals seven overarching factors that influence producer decision-making: awareness and knowledge, social factors, psychological factors, technologies and tools, economic factors, implementation capacity, and policies and regulations. The review highlights the critical role of social science in navigating complexity and uncertainty. Key priorities emerging from the literature include developing measurable, outcome-based programs; ensuring credible communication through trusted intermediaries; and designing tailored interventions. The findings demonstrate that initiatives will succeed when they emphasize measurable benefits, address uncertainties, and develop programs that capitalize on identified opportunities while overcoming existing barriers.

Agricultural water management refers to the planning, development, distribution, and efficient use of water resources for agricultural purposes. Effective agricultural water management is vital for sustainable farming, especially in the face of climate change and increasing demand for food. It requires a combination of technological, ecological, and policy solutions tailored to specific regions and farming systems. Agricultural water management practices include rainwater harvesting, irrigation, soil moisture conservation, and use of drop resistant crops. Adoption of these practices can be affected by factors such as socio economic, institutional, environmental and cultural factors. This study examined the level of adoption of agricultural water management practices among smallholder farmers in Rongai Sub-county Kenya. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted, while proportionate and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain the respondents. The accessible population was 6,230 smallholder farmers from the target population of 26,804 smallholder farmers in Rongai sub county Kenya. The study was done in August 2023 to November 2023 and included 120 smallholder farmers in Rongai Sub County. A questionnaire was used to collect data, while descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study indicates that adoption of agricultural water management practices is low, being at 35.8% since 64.2% of the farmers did not adopt the practices. This low adoption may be associated with low income and lack of access to extension services in Rongai sub-county. The findings may help in improving adoption of agricultural water management by creating awareness about the practices, training smallholder farmers and advocating for supportive policies through collaborative engagement between local government and agricultural organizations.

Farmer Field Schools for Improving Farming Practices and Farmer Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Identify and Explaining the Social and Economic Factors Affecting Rural Women Empowerment (Case Study: Rostam County)

This article presents a global analysis of farmer adoption and the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on environmental stewardship. Employing qualitative methods, including literature review and library research, the study aims to explore the extent to which farmers across different regions have adopted sustainable agricultural practices and assess their effectiveness in promoting environmental stewardship. Sustainable agriculture is increasingly recognized as essential for ensuring food security while mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. However, the adoption of sustainable practices varies widely among farmers due to socioeconomic, cultural, and institutional factors. By synthesizing existing literature, this study examines the drivers and barriers influencing farmer adoption of sustainable practices, such as agroecological farming, conservation agriculture, and organic farming. Furthermore, it evaluates the environmental impact of these practices on soil health, water quality, biodiversity conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis also considers the socio-economic implications of sustainable agriculture, including its potential to enhance farmer livelihoods, promote rural development, and contribute to food sovereignty. Through a comprehensive review of empirical studies and case examples from different countries, this paper highlights the importance of policy support, extension services, and farmer education in fostering widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. It concludes by identifying key research gaps and proposing recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and agricultural practitioners to promote the adoption of sustainable agriculture and advance environmental stewardship on a global scale.

This study assessed needs, knowledge, and interests of agricultural professionals who were likely to enroll in an online extension course in sustainable agriculture. The objectives of the study were: to (1) describe their demographic characteristics, (2) identify their concerns and interests related to farming, (3) evaluate participants’ knowledge and adoption of sustainable farming practices, and (4) use the evidence to implement a distance education program in sustainable agriculture. A questionnaire was distributed electronically through mailing lists and Web sites. Responses were analyzed using a text analysis and a Chi-square test to evaluate the existence of associations between interests and knowledge in sustainable agriculture. Despite the study participants’ diverse professions and backgrounds, they identified similar constraints impeding the adoption of sustainable farming practices. They further proposed solutions, many of which are supported by current agroecological research, indicating a vast knowledge base regarding sustainable farming. The findings were used to develop and deliver an online extension program in sustainable agriculture. This study highlights the importance of understanding the levels of knowledge, concerns, and interests of the targeted audience. Incorporating this understanding into an extension program through peer-to-peer collaboration in discussion forums and electronic mail could facilitate the dissemination of innovate education approaches to teach sustainable agriculture.

Nowadays, the sustainability of Greek dairy cattle farms is questionable due to low competitiveness and high GHG emissions. In this context, the BIOCIRCULAR project, funded by the EYDE ETAK, developed a series of alternative practices focusing on precision agriculture principles. However, the adoption of any practice from farmers is not a given, and depends on several determinants. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine farmers’ adoption decisions regarding precision-agricultural practices in Greek dairy production systems, as well as the economic and environmental impacts of this adoption. In order to achieve this, a bio-economic model was developed based on mathematical programming methods. The proposed model simulates a large number of dairy cattle farms with or without crop production, including different management strategies and their relevant costs, and provides an environmental assessment of the adopted practices based on GHG emissions. Moreover, in order to analyze farmers’ adoption decisions, different policy measures, linked to various environmental outcomes, were examined. The results highlighted that the adoption of precision-agricultural practices led to significantly better economic and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, it was found that different levels of incentives can be efficiently targeted to encourage the adoption of new feeds and, more broadly, to secure the sustainability of the sector.

The global shift towards sustainable agriculture is crucial to ensuring food security and preserving the environment. In Iraq, specifically in Najaf Governorate, encouraging farmers to adopt Sustainable agriculture (such as water conservation, organic composting, and integrated pest management) is a key strategic objective. However, adoption rates of these practices are still influenced by a complex set of factors, among which economic viability is paramount. Agricultural marketing which includes market access, pricing, value chains, and information dissemination is assumed to be a key driver of this adoption. This research aims to examine the extent and nature of the influence of agricultural marketing factors on farmers' decision-making in Najaf Governorate regarding the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. This applied research relied on an inductive quantitative methodology. A structured, closed-ended questionnaire was designed to collect data from a random sample of 150 farmers registered with the Najaf Directorate of Agriculture. The survey measured variables related to marketing challenges (access to markets, price premiums for sustainable products, and reliability of market information) and the degree of adoption of various sustainable practices. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to determine the relationship between marketing variables and rates of adoption of sustainable practices. To determine the apparent validity and content appropriateness of the questionnaire, the scale was presented to a sample of experts for feedback, and some modifications were made to meet the judges' recommendations.The analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between strong agricultural marketing systems and the adoption of sustainable practices. The main findings indicate the following: Market Access and Price Premiums: Farmers who had access to stable markets or received price premiums for sustainably produced commodities were more likely to invest in Sustainable agriculture.

Teff farming in Ethiopia is commonly seen as being dominated by men, with women playing supporting roles on some aspects of the growing process. This study is rooted in existing literature on drivers of Best Practices (BP) adoption and decision-making theory and is unique in that it focuses primarily on understanding how gender-specific factors influence decision-making on the adoption of BPs. To this end, the study assessed the intra-household gender dynamics at play within farming households in Amhara, Ethiopia, and their influence on deciding whether or not to adopt agricultural best practices for teff farming. These gender dynamics include the division of labor between women and men, intra-household decision-making processes, social and cultural norms and access factors (such as access to information, training, credit and control over income). Using data from a three-round quantitative survey with one woman and one man in 555 households, as well as focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, this study is uniquely placed to assess the impact of these gender-specific and intra-household factors on the adoption of best practices. The findings show that households where women are more involved in teff farming, have less input into decision-making, less control over income, and more access to information and adopt on average more best practices. However, there is significant heterogeneity when looking at individual best practices, with women’s decision-making power or access to resources particularly important for specific practices such as sowing in rows. This study implies that designing more gender-sensitive agricultural programs and extension services in Ethiopia – specifically on practices relevant to women and men – can increase best practice adoption, with the ultimate aim of increasing productivity and income for teff farming households, and empowering women. Since male and female farmers are involved in different practices, access to resources and decision-making power have different impacts depending on the gender of the respondent and the practice analyzed, and there is no “one size fits all” solution to improve teff farming productivity. Key words: intra-household dynamics, decision-making, gender roles, best practice adoption, teff

Pre-harvest practices (PHPs) are key to sustainable mango farming, including their impact on fruit quality at harvest and post-harvest longevity. However, the adoption of these practices is still below the expected levels for optimal production. This paper analyses the determinants of the extent of adoption of PHPs using cross-sectional data collected in Embu and Machakos counties of Kenya. Multivariate probit and ordered probit models were applied. The results reveal that there are significant correlations among the PHPs. Further analysis shows that the probability of and the level of adoption of PHPs is influenced by region, years of experience in mango farming, off-farm income, mango sales, number of mango trees, access to inputs, and perceptions towards PHPs. These results indicate that policymakers and their development counterparts ought to strengthen farmers' access to farm inputs and extension services, and address barriers to financial access to accelerate the adoption of PHPs.