Synthesizing Conservation Motivations and Barriers: What Have We Learned from Qualitative Studies of Farmers’ Behaviors in the United States?

Since 2011, qualitative studies examining adoption of conservation practices and programs (CPPs) have burgeoned. This article presents a systematic review of all U.S.-based qualitative investigations into CPP adoption since 1996. We found three themes are discussed primarily as motivating adoption: farmer characteristics, environmental awareness, and trust in information sources. Four themes are discussed primarily as barriers to adoption: farm management, negative perceptions of a conservation practice, perceptions that adoption is a risk, and land tenure. Four themes were discussed as both motivations and barriers: economic factors, social norms, perceptions of government programs, and farm characteristics. Overall, we found farmers’ economic and management needs and their perceived and actual limitations to conservation behavior influenced adoption. Implications of our findings for policymakers and practitioners include promoting systems-based conservation strategies and stressing the benefits of conservation practices

The adoption of improved agricultural technologies: A meta-analysis for Africa

Understanding the determinants of improved agricultural technology adoption is an important component of increasing agricultural productivity and incomes of smallholders to reduce poverty and hunger, which are the top two Sustainable Development Goals. Among the actions needed to achieve this, particular attention is paid to the identification and promotion of productivity and resilience enhancing agricultural practices. The micro-economic literature on the analysis of the drivers of agricultural technology adoption is well-established since the Green Revolution. Although numerous seminal reviews of this literature have been published, most of these were theoretical or conceptual reviews and focus on earlier literature from continents other than Africa, which is the continent facing the biggest productivity challenge now. This paper synthesizes the findings of this literature focusing on Africa using a meta-data set that brings together the results of 168 recently published papers. We find that most of this literature focuses on agronomic practices and that agroforestry and livestock related studies make up less than one fifth of the total published papers. Eleven determinants, primarily those related to information access, wealth indicators and tenure security, are found to increase adoption more than chance would dictate in the literature. Our findings provide evidence to support recommendations for future policy and research

Thinking big and thinking small: A conceptual framework for best practices in community and stakeholder engagement in food, energy, and water systems

Community and stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognized as essential to science at the nexus of food, energy, and water systems (FEWS) to address complex issues surrounding food and energy production and water provision for society. Yet no comprehensive framework exists for supporting best practices in community and stakeholder engagement for FEWS. A review and meta‐synthesis were undertaken of a broad range of existing models, frameworks, and toolkits for community and stakeholder engagement. A framework is proposed that comprises situational awareness of the FEWS place or problem, creation of a suitable culture for engagement, focus on power‐sharing in the engagement process, co‐ownership, co‐generation of knowledge and outcomes, the technical process of integration, the monitoring processes of reflective and reflexive experiences, and formative evaluation. The framework is discussed as a scaffolding for supporting the development and application of best practices in community and stakeholder engagement in ways that are arguably essential for sound FEWS science and sustainable management

Barriers to adoption of improved agricultural technologies. A metanalysis for Africa.

Implementation of CSA technologies is seen as a cornerstone of improving agricultural productivity and resilience in Africa – so why is adoption so low? Many factors, both internal and external influence a farmer’s decisions

Designing a Regional System of Social Indicators to Evaluate Nonpoint Source Water Projects

A collaborative team has developed a system to measure the social outcomes of nonpoint source water projects as indicators of progress towards environmental goals. The system involves a set of core indicators, additional supplemental indicators, and a process for collecting and using the indicators. This process is supported by methodologies and instruments for data collection, analysis, and reporting that are coordinated and supported through detailed written guidance and an on-line data management tool. Its multi-state scope and application offer a unique opportunity to target, measure, and report interim resource management accomplishments consistently at multiple levels

“Safer to plant corn and beans”? Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt

Agricultural diversification in the Midwestern Corn Belt has the potential to improve socioeconomic and environmental outcomes by buffering farmers from environmental and economic shocks and improving soil, water, and air quality. However, complex barriers related to agricultural markets, individual behavior, social norms, and government policy constrain diversification in this region. This study examines farmer perspectives regarding the challenges and opportunities for both corn and soybean production and agricultural diversification strategies. We analyze data from 20 focus groups with 100 participants conducted in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa through a combined inductive and deductive approach, drawing upon interpretive grounded theory. Our results suggest that when identifying challenges and opportunities, participants center economics and market considerations, particularly income, productivity, and market access. These themes are emphasized both as benefits of the current corn-soybean system, as well as challenges for diversification. Additionally, logistical, resource and behavioral hurdles– including the comparative difficulty and time required to diversify, and constraints in accessing land, labor, and technical support– are emphasized by participants as key barriers to diversification. Agricultural policies shape these challenges, enhancing the comparative advantage and decreasing the risk of producing corn and soybeans as compared to diversified products. Meanwhile, alternative marketing arrangements, farmer networks, family relationships, and improved soil health are highlighted as important opportunities for diversification. We contextualize our findings within the theories of reasoned action and diffusion of innovation, and explore their implications for farmer engagement, markets, and agricultural policy, and the development of additional resources for business and technical support.This article is published as Traldi, R., Asprooth, L., M. Usher, E. et al. “Safer to plant corn and beans”? Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt. Agric Hum Values (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-024-10570-7. Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted

Exploring relationships: Social capital, leadership, and behavior in three Midwestern watersheds

There are thousands of watershed groups across the United States that are engaging in efforts to reduce nonpoint source pollution (NPS). Collaboration can be an effective means of achieving reduction in NPS, and factors that have been identified as contributing to successful collaborations include effective leadership, social capital, and social networks. These concepts are used as the overarching framework of this dissertation. First, a study is presented that examines the role of water quality relevant social capital in a structural equation model of behavior use and awareness. Drawing upon theories of behavior adoption, the final model proposes that awareness directly influences social capital and attitudes, which in turn directly affect behavior use and awareness. Data come from a mail survey of a Midwestern watershed population (n=338). Results indicate that social capital is a meaningful variable to include in such models, and that attitudes are not a significant variable. Second, social capital is examined qualitatively in a comparative case study of three Midwestern watershed groups. The findings identify meaningful outcomes related to the purposive formation of a watershed group, and how access to particular social network resources can aid in achieving group successes. One of the three watersheds was formed purposively for the greatest access to human capital and external social network ties. Data come from 37 interviews conducted over a two year period. The third study examines leadership issues in one Midwestern watershed group, and applies both traditional and collaborative leadership theories to discuss phenomena that emerged from 17 longitudinal qualitative interviews and meeting observations. Findings show that in this case, roles of committee members and paid staff need to be clarified for the group to regain its early momentum. Moreover, watershed groups receiving government funds that are housed at local agencies will benefit from clearly defining where decision making authority lies, with the agency or with the group