Is technical efficiency affected by farmers’ preference for mitigation and adaptation actions against climate change? A case study in northwest Mexico

Climate change has adverse effects on agriculture, decreasing crop quality and productivity. This makes it necessary to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies that contribute to the maintenance of technical efficiency (TE). This study analyzed the relationship of TE with farmers’ mitigation and adaptation action preferences, their risk and environmental attitudes, and their perception of climate change. Through the stochastic frontier method, TE levels were estimated for 370 farmers in Northwest Mexico. The results showed the average efficiency levels (57%) for three identified groups of farmers: High TE (15% of farmers), average TE (72%), and low TE (13%). Our results showed a relationship between two of the preferred adaptation actions against climate change estimated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. The most efficient farmers preferred “change crops,” while less efficient farmers preferred “invest in irrigation infrastructure.” The anthropocentric environmental attitude inferred from the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale was related to the level of TE. Efficient farmers were those with an anthropocentric environmental attitude, compared to less efficient farmers, who exhibited an ecocentric attitude. The climate change issues were more perceived by moderately efficient farmers. These findings set out a roadmap for policy-makers to face climate change at the regional levelPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Analysis of farmers’ stated risk using lotteries and their perceptions of climate change in the Northwest of Mexico

Risk attitudes are relevant factors affecting production, management and investment decisions at the farm level. They are key factors related to farmers’ attitudes towards the environment and climate change. Several methodological approaches, which were considered to be preferable for measuring the level of risk of an economic agent, ranging from highly risk-tolerant to highly risk-averse attitudes, are available. The Multiple Price List (MPL) method is one of the stated approaches that is gaining relevance. In this study, we apply the MPL and relate the risk outcomes to farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and their perceptions of the environment and climate change. Data were collected using a face-to-face survey, carried out with a group of 370 farmers of an irrigation district, located in the northwest of Mexico. The results showed a risk level of about 0.32, according to the Constant Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA) coefficient, locating farmers of the region in a risk-averse group. The heterogeneity analysis showed that the socioeconomic factors and the perceptions of climate change are related to the farmers´ stated risk level. Farmers who are young women, with a tendency to use public support for structural investment, were shown to be risk-tolerant. Farmers considered floods, hail, diseases, pests, and weed growth incidences to be the most frequent weather patterns in the region.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Climate change adaptation and mitigation actions based on farmers' environmental preferences and perceptions

Climate change compromises sustainable agricultural development. It has deep economic, environmental and social impacts, particularly on vulnerable rural regions in developing countries where agriculture constitutes the backbone of the economy. This study analyzes farmers’ preferences regarding the potential implementation of several mitigation and adaptation actions addressing climate change. Data were collected on 370 farmers in the “Valle del Carrizo” region of northwestern México. Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, the farmers’ preferred mitigation and adaptation actions were identified and related to their stated attitudes regarding risks using the Multiple Price List (MPL) lotteries approach. Farmers’ environmental beliefs and perceptions as key means of understanding concepts of sustainability were related to their preferences. The use of less polluting machinery and investment in improving irrigation infrastructure were identified as the most preferred actions. Environmental opinions reviewed using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale allowed for the identification of the participants’ ecocentric and anthropocentric attitudes, highlighting the commitment of most farmers to the sustainable use of natural resources. Agricultural policies should be developed according to farmers’ preferences and behaviors. The design and implementation of measures and policy tools addressing climate change should be inclusive and developed at the micro-level considering farm and farmer typologies.Postprint (published version

Analysis of farmers’ stated risk using hypothetical lotteries and their perceptions of climate change in the northwest of Mexico

The risk attitude affects farmers' production and investment decisions. It is a factor related to their environmental attitudes and towards climate change (CC). The multiple price list (MPL) method was applied to identify the level of stated risk by farmers and subsequently related to their socioeconomic characteristics, environmental attitudes and CC' perceptions. The data was collected through a face-toface survey of 370 farmers in irrigation district 076 in northwestern Mexico. The results showed a risk level of 0.32 according to the Constant Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA) coefficient, locating farmers of the region in a risk-averse group. The heterogeneity analysis showed that socioeconomic factors and perceptions of CC are related to the farmers´ stated risk. Farmers who are young women, with a tendency to use public support for structural investment, were shown to be risk-tolerant. Farmers considered floods, hail, diseases, pests, and weed growth incidences to be the most frequent weather patterns in the region.Postprint (author's final draft

Is Technical Efficiency Affected by Farmers’ Preference for Mitigation and Adaptation Actions against Climate Change? A Case Study in Northwest Mexico

Climate change has adverse effects on agriculture, decreasing crop quality and productivity. This makes it necessary to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies that contribute to the maintenance of technical efficiency (TE). This study analyzed the relationship of TE with farmers’ mitigation and adaptation action preferences, their risk and environmental attitudes, and their perception of climate change. Through the stochastic frontier method, TE levels were estimated for 370 farmers in Northwest Mexico. The results showed the average efficiency levels (57%) for three identified groups of farmers: High TE (15% of farmers), average TE (72%), and low TE (13%). Our results showed a relationship between two of the preferred adaptation actions against climate change estimated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. The most efficient farmers preferred “change crops,” while less efficient farmers preferred “invest in irrigation infrastructure.” The anthropocentric environmental attitude inferred from the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale was related to the level of TE. Efficient farmers were those with an anthropocentric environmental attitude, compared to less efficient farmers, who exhibited an ecocentric attitude. The climate change issues were more perceived by moderately efficient farmers. These findings set out a roadmap for policy-makers to face climate change at the regional level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Towards circular farming: factors affecting EU farmers’ decision to adopt emission-reducing innovations

The agriculture and livestock sectors face several challenges related to achieving the current EU environmental objectives. Two of the major policy goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring an increased share of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from renewable sources. Farmers are continuously seeking to adopt technologies and solutions to ensure sustainable food production systems. Adoption of innovation at the farm level based on a circular economy may improve resource efficiency, allow the reuse and recovery of nutrients, and reduce the negative effects of emissions on soil, water, and air. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the adoption of several circular agronomy solutions using a semi-structured questionnaire on a sample of farmers in four EU countries: Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy. The results indicated that acceptance of proposed circular innovations is closely related to farmers’ environmental objectives, experience, university education, previous experience in innovation adoption, and environmental attitudes. Additionally, institutional support plays a significant role in adoption decisions. Factors affecting adoption decisions may assist policymakers in designing more specific and efficient measures to help farmers meet their current social needs and environmental challenges.This study has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme undergrant agreement No. 773649 (Circular Agronomics project) and 773682 (Nutri2Cycle project). The content of this paper reflects only the authors’ view and the European Union Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Consumers’ willingness to pay and factors affecting demand for food products from circular farming: Open-ended choice experiments across six EU countries

Circular farming, as one of the sustainable agricultural systems, contributes to the reuse of waste and optimizes the recovery of nutrients (C, N, P). By circular farming we refer to farming activities that focus on using minimal amounts of external inputs, closing nutrient loops, and minimizing environmental impacts. Here open-ended choice experiments (OECEs) were employed to analyze consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) and demand for food obtained from circular farming through questionnaire among 5,591 participants from 6 EU countries. Three product categories were chosen (pork, milk, and bread). Results show that a market niche existed for the analyzed food products produced from circular farming, where consumers exhibited a willingness to pay a premium compared to conventional products. However, Spanish consumers received the highest WTP premium (>26%), whereas Hungarian consumers obtained the lowest one in all categories (0%). Socio-demographic characteristics, environmental attitudes, and price influenced the quantities of circular products purchased. Keywords: circular food products; open-ended choice experiment; willingness to pay; environmental attitude; negative binomial regressionPostprint (published version

The missing link in biogeographic reconstruction: Accounting for lineage extinction rewrites history

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Research and Technology, Indonesia, to Berry Juliandi (No. 2020/IT3.L1/PN/2021) and funding from NERC/NEWTON (NE/S006923/1 and NE/S006893/1) to Adam C. Algar, Greta Bocedi, Cecile Gubry-Rangin, Lesley Lancaster, Alexander S. T. Papadopulos and Justin M.J. Travis. The manuscript was improved by the constructive feedback from two anonymous reviewers. No permits were required to conduct this research.Peer reviewedPublisher PD