Will Farmers Accept Lower Gross Margins for the Sustainable Cultivation Method of Mixed Cropping? First Insights from Germany

Vanessa Bonke,Marius Michels,Oliver Musshoff

doi:10.3390/su13041631

Abstract

A decline in the legume cultivation has contributed to the biodiversity loss within the agricultural production across Europe. One possibility to include legumes into the production and promote sustainability is mixed cropping with legumes and non-legumes. However, the adoption of mixed cropping is challenging for farmers and information about the profitability is scarce. If mixed cropping should become a widely established production method, it is essential to gain an understanding of famers’ evaluation of the profitability mixed cropping needs to reach. Therefore, this article provides first empirical insights into farmers stated willingness to accept gross margin changes compared to current production possibilities. Based on a survey with results from 134 German non-adopters conducted in 2018 we can distinguish conventional farmers with a positive, neutral and negative willingness to accept reductions in gross margins as the trade-off for ecological benefits. Using an ordered logistic model we find that risk attitude, risk perception, the number of measures performed for ecological focus areas, the farmer’s age and being located in the south of Germany influence their willingness to accept gross margin changes compared to currently produced cereals.

Highlights

In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, restoring biodiversity and promoting sustainable production patterns are among some of the goals sustainable agriculture should achieve [1] Promoting changes towards a more ecologically beneficial production and reducing negative environmental externalities of current production patterns are core challenges the agricultural sector has to address [2].A substantial decline in the cultivation of legumes has reduced the provision of ecosystem services and contributed to the biodiversity loss within agricultural production patterns in the European Union (EU) [3,4]
In 2019, around 121 Mio hectare of cereals were cultivated within the EU, whereas the cultivation of grain legumes amounted to approximately 5 Mio ha [6]
Since cereals vastly dominate the agricultural production in Germany, the gross margin of the cereal was chosen as the reference point

Summary

Introduction

A substantial decline in the cultivation of legumes has reduced the provision of ecosystem services and contributed to the biodiversity loss within agricultural production patterns in the European Union (EU) [3,4]. Through symbiosis with rhizobia in their root system. They can reduce the need for mineral N fertilizers which in turn can decrease nitrate leaching and potentially ground water pollution [5]. Conventional crop rotations in the EU are largely dominated by cereals nowadays. In 2019, around 121 Mio hectare (ha) of cereals were cultivated within the EU, whereas the cultivation of grain legumes amounted to approximately 5 Mio ha [6]

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Results