Exploring layers of factors for farmers' adoption of ecological approaches

This thesis investigates different “layers” of factors for farmers’ adoption of ecological approaches, namely, individual, social and material layers of factors, with a mixed research methods approach. These layers of factors can be conceptualized using an onion as a metaphor, as factors influencing farmers’ behaviour can originate from the individual core, from the social environment or material environment, representing different layers in the onion. Starting from the outer layers, Paper I is focused on the material and social context that farmers are subjected to. It investigates how ecological approaches are justified in EU rural development policy by analysing policy discourses in Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) of six EU member states and regions, over three periods of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Secondly, Paper II explores factors from the inner layer of the onion, the individual layer, by investigating the types of values that drive farmers in their choice of farming system, specifically either organic or conventional. These two first papers make use of qualitative methods and are followed by Paper III, a systematic map which reviews studies using quantitative methods, from 2010 to 2022, on drivers about farmers’ adoption of ecological approaches. In regard to independent variables, Paper III examines all three layers of factors for adoption: individual, social and material. This thesis ends with Paper IV, a quantitative analysis exploring the role of behavioural factors on farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices, including factors from the social and individual layers. It aims to fill the research gap found from results of Paper III on lack of evidence of identity as a driver for adoption

Farmers' perceived values in conventional and organic farming: A comparison between French, Irish and Swedish farmers using the Means-end chain approach

Values act as driving forces for individuals to behave in a certain way or to choose certain actions. They may explain current differences of converted organic land among EU countries. In this paper, we identified and compared the types of values, economic and other, that motivate farmers to choose certified organic or con-ventional production systems in France, Ireland and Sweden. To identify these values, we analysed and compared attribute-consequence-value representations of the choice of production systems among farmers, using a Means-end chain approach. Seventy-eight in-depth laddering interviews were conducted to explore how farmers characterised their choice, the consequences they perceived from these characteristics and the values they associated with these consequences. The uncovered values were classified along Rokeach's typology to distin-guish between instrumental and terminal values. Results indicate that both farmers with a conventional farm and farmers with a certified organic farm are driven by complex sets of financial, business, or productivity values and by non-financial, non-business, or non-productivity values. Findings are useful to policy makers and farm ad -visors, who can use these results to develop more efficient communication schemes to promote organic farming. The findings can also be communicated to consumers and the public in order to encourage consumption

European farmer perspectives and their adoption of ecological practices

Delivering an agricultural policy which meets ecosystem and climatic pressures and addresses weaknesses in our current food system presents complex challenges for food producers. Adoption of ecological practices will reduce the dependence on imports into the farm and is one way to meet some of these policy ambitions. Understanding why farmers do or don’t adopt these practices is key to enabling this transition. This study outlines a series of investigations into the key barriers, values and perceptions towards ecological practice adoption across European farming.We find that personal, technical and institutional forces influence the adoption of more sustainable practices but these forces have varying levels of influence. The tensions between environmental, compared to purely production orientated motivations, may be a key barrier to ecological practice adoption. We also find a strong influence of commodity supply chains which may either encourage or limit adoption of these approaches. Promoting efforts for co-ordinated approaches between the public and private sectors may mitigate some of the dissonance in messaging towards these practices and alleviate these tensions. We also identify a great deal of heterogeneity within the European farming community and argue for a more targeted approach that would encourage adoption of ecological approaches and promote the scaling up of these practices

How are ecological approaches justified in European rural development policy? Evidence from a content analysis of CAP and rural development discourses

Ecological approaches to farming are gaining increasing interest in the EU's Rural Development (RD) policy. From a societal perspective, these approaches are expected to deliver public goods in terms of environmental and social benefits for both consumers and rural actors. This study aims to investigate the policy discourses that are being used in the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) of Sweden, France, Bavaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania to depict and justify the support for ecological approaches across three programming periods of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). For this purpose, a model integrating both CAP and RD discourses was developed and applied using deductive content analysis focused on the policy documents of RDPs. The results suggest that during the entire CAP period from 2000 to 2020, ecological approaches were mainly justified in a multifunctionality discourse, especially with the two RD discourses of i) nature conservation in all considered EU member states and regions, with the exception of Sweden, and ii) agri-ruralism, including Sweden. The neomercantilist discourse appears to be the third most dominant discourse in the two most recent CAP periods from 2007 to 2013 and 2014–2020, becoming more prominent between these two periods. Ecological approaches are almost never advocated along liberal lines as the neo-liberalist discourse is almost absent. These results highlight that these six EU member states and regions recognize the potential of these approaches for delivering public goods, despite a lesser emphasis on socio-economic benefit

Legislation and political discourse about ecological farming

The deliverable D6.1 of the LIFT project explores what types of discourses are used in six European Union (EU) member states’ Rural Development Programs (RDP) and other agricultural policy documents and how they incorporate ecological approaches acrossthree Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) periods. This multiple case study highlights similarities and differences in the dominant discourses as emerging from national policy documents in the following selected EU member states: France, Germany (Bavaria), Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden. It also demonstrates how discourse analysis can be used to gain understanding about the dominant discourses expressed in these documents in relation to how ecological approaches are defined, the policy rationale for encouraging ecological approaches and the expected consequences of doing so. Conceptually, we focused on two types of discourses identified from the literature: 1) the three CAP discourses: i) neomercantilism; ii) neoliberalism and iii) multifunctionality, and 2) the five socio-political discourses of Rural Development (RD): iv) agri-ruralist, v) hedonist, vi) utilitarian, vii) nature conservation and viii) community sustainability. These types of discourses were together integrated in a model, where each policy discourse depicts agriculture as accomplishing a specific function. The theoretical framework is grounded within a political economy perspective. This means that policy develops because of confrontation between different concerned agents with different interest, pushing for different objectives. The state acts as an intermediary between these agents and aims at ensuring consensus and maintenance of agreement. Policy documents are therefore often the result of competing discourses and contradicting policy objectives. Across EU member states, the results show that ecological approaches are mainly depicted with the multifunctionality discourse with two dominating sub-discourses of nature conservation and agri-ruralism. Nevertheless, we observe an increase in the use of the neomercantilist discourse in the last CAP period. This parallels what the previous literature finds in Commissioners’ speeches: a reappearance of the traditional neomercantilist discourse in the CAP agenda 2014-2020. Farming systems (with farming practices) related to agroecology, biodiversity-based and organic farming are among the most commonly mentioned farming systems

Farmers’ behavioral drivers for adopting agroforestry practices – A study of Swedish agriculture using the theory of planned behavior

Agroforestry has recently been recognized as a type of agriculture that provides ecosystem services such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water management. This paper studies farmers’ behavioral drivers with respect to their adoption of agroforestry practices, using survey data from Sweden. We extended the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to incorporate other behavioral factors, including business identity, conservation objectives and perceived labor constraints. These constructs were first extracted with factor analysis before estimating their impact on adoption with logit models. Of the factors analyzed, the results indicate that conservation objectives positively impact farmers’ adoption of agroforestry. The absence of significance of the other behavioral variables, including attitudes, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms, indicate that there might be some over reporting of significant TPB models in the farmers’ adoption literature

Recharge et paléorecharge d'une nappe libre en milieu sahélien (Niger oriental) (approches géochimique et hydrodynamique)

Cette thèse porte sur la caractérisation de l'hydrogéologie de la nappe libre du Niger oriental, première ressource en eau dans ce milieu sahélien marqué par une forte variabilité spatio-temporelle. Une centaine d'échantillon ont été prélevés de 1997 à 2003 pour une étude géochimique (ions majeurs, 18O, 2H , 13C, 14C) couplée à un modèle hydrodynamique.La recharge est active au sud et discontinue quelle que soit la source : (i) la rivière Komadougou Yobé, (ii) le lac Tchad et (iii) les pluies au sein de l'erg ancien du Manga. L'enrichissement systématique en 18O et 2H des eaux souterraines montre l'impact significatif de l'évaporation sur la recharge sous ce climat semi-aride.Les âges 14C indiquent la présence d'eaux fossiles sur l'ensemble de la région, datant de l'optimum holocène. Ces eaux présentent les plus faibles valeurs en 18O de la nappe, signe d'une paléo-recharge rapide et intense. En parallèle, les valeurs 13C suggèrent le développement d'une végétation adaptée à un climat plus humide (type C3) et apportent de nouveaux indices d'un paléo-lac Tchad recouvrant la plaine du Kadzell.La modélisation de la dépression piézométrique du Kadzell a été calée et validée à partir des mesures piézométriques disponibles depuis 1960. Le modèle montre la nécessité d'une évapotranspiration dominante sur la plaine et de faibles perméabilités pour reproduire la dépression piézométrique. Il confirme les résultats isotopiques avec une recharge uniquement latérale avec 50% des apports depuis la rivière et seulement 7% depuis le lac. Par ailleurs, le régime transitoire montre l'impact limité sur la nappe libre des sécheresses majeures(1970-80) malgré l'assèchement prolongé du lac.This study aims to describe the present state, geochemical and hydrodynamical, of the phreatic aquifer in eastern Niger, the main permanent water resource in this Sahelian environment characterized by a very large variability in time and space. More than one hundred of chemical samples (major ions, 18O, 2H, 13C and 14C) were collected in the aquifer and water surface between 1997 and 2003. Their interpretation was coupled with a hydrodynamic modelling.Recharge is active only in the south and always discontinuous: (i) Komadougou Yobe, an intermittent river, (ii) Lake Chad and (iii) rain over the Pleistocene erg of Manga. Systematic enrichment in 18O and 2H of groundwater shows the significant impact of evaporation under such a semi-arid climate. In parallel, 14C ages indicate the presence of old water in the whole region, dating from the Holocene climatic optimum. This water has the lowest 18O values in the aquifer, sign of a fast and intense paleo-recharge. The 13C values suggest also the development of a vegetation adapted to a wetter climate (C3 type) and bring new indices of a paleo-lake Chad covering the Kadzell plain.The numerical model of the closed piezometric depression of Kadzell was calibrated and validated with water table measurements available since the 1960s. The model requires a dominant evapotranspiration on the plain and low permeabilities to reproduce the depression. It confirms the isotopic results with a recharge available only laterally, of which 50% comes from the river and only 7% from the lake. The transient state shows the limited impact on the aquifer of the severe droughts in the 70-80s, in spite of the prolonged drying up of Lake Chad.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Influence océanique du golfe de Guinée sur la mousson en Afrique de l'Ouest

La mousson africaine démarre chaque année à la fin du printemps boréal, lorsqu un fort contraste thermique se développe entre le Sahara surchauffé et le golfe de Guinée qui se refroidit en surface. De nombreuses études montrent le rôle majeur des températures de surface de l'océan dans le système de mousson. Cette thèse vise à explorer les mécanismes d'interactions océan-atmosphère agissant sur les précipitations côtières de la mousson africaine au printemps. L'étude s'appuie à la fois sur des mesures in situ et satellites, et sur des données de modèle. La saison de mousson de l'année 2006 a été analysée grâce au grand nombre de données rassemblées cette année-là par le programme AMMA (Analyse Multidisciplinaire de la Mousson Africaine). Il a ainsi été mis en évidence que le refroidissement de la surface de l'océan crée un front océanique à l'équateur qui engendre une accélération du vent au nord de l'équateur semblant favoriser l'activité convective le long de la côte africaine. L'étape suivante a été d'étendre l'étude à une période de dix ans (2000-2009) à l'aide des mesures satellites et des données de réanalyses. Les phénomènes observés pour la saison de mousson 2006 ont été retrouvés et les analyses réalisées ont mis en avant un mécanisme liant les coups de vents dans l'Est de l'Atlantique équatorial aux précipitations côtières. Ainsi, un coup de vent entraîne un refroidissement de la surface de l'océan à l'équateur. En retour, ce refroidissement allié à l'accélération du vent au nord de l'équateur, agit sur la circulation atmosphérique de basse couche dans le golfe de Guinée. L'activité convective est alors favorisée et les précipitations augmentent à la côte.The West African monsoon starts each year at the end of boreal spring, when a strong thermal contrast develops between the warmer Sahara region and the cooler Gulf of Guinea. Many studies show that sea surface temperatures play a key role in the monsoon system. The aim of this thesis is to explore the air-sea interactions occurring in this region, and the mechanisms through which they may impact the coastal rainfall of the monsoon during spring. The study is based on in situ and satellite measurements as well as model data. The 2006 monsoon season is analysed thanks to the vast set of observations collected by the AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses) project during this year. Results show that a cooling of the sea surface creates an oceanic front at the equator. This strengthens the wind north of the equator and seems to favour the convective activity along the African coast. The next step is to extend this study to a ten-year period (2000-2009) with satellite measurements and reanalyses data. Results are consistent with the process observed in the 2006 case study, and the statistical analyses show a link between the wind burst in the East Equatorial Atlantic and the coastal rainfall. In this context, a wind burst generates a cooling of the sea surface at the equator. This cooling combined with the wind strengthening north of the equator, in turn, impacts the low-level atmospheric circulation in the Gulf of Guinea. This enhances convective activity and increases precipitation along the coast.PARIS-BIUSJ-Sci.Terre recherche (751052114) / SudocSudocFranceF

Role of air-sea interactions on the coastal rainfall in the Gulf of Guinea during boreal spring

International audienceThe role of air-sea interactions in the boreal spring precipitation of the West African monsoon is explored through the wind variability in the Gulf of Guinea. Satellite measurements and reanalyses data are used to describe the atmosphere and the sea surface in the Gulf of Guinea from 2000 to 2009. Previous results showed a statistical link between the strengthening of southerlies between the Equator and the Guinean coast, and precipitation along the coast. In this study, linear regressions are first performed in May-June (2000-2009) to investigate the mechanisms at stake : an equatorial SST cooling strengthens the wind north of the equator, via the SST front located along 1°N. This wind acceleration intensifies the low atmospheric local circulation, which components are surface southerlies, coastal convergence, low atmosphere southward return flow, and subsidence over the Gulf of Guinea. When this circulation is stronger than normal, it brings more humidity toward the coast, which triggers deeper atmospheric convection and increases the coastal rainfall . In addition, an abrupt change in the surface wind pattern is observed between April and July. Composites are used to analyse temporal and spatial variations of the SST, surface wind speed and humidity, in surface as well as in altitude. A clear transition is observed during the spring season, when the wind strengthens between the equator and 5°N, which generally occurs at the end of May. Eventually, this study emphasizes very clearly the importance of the intraseasonal variability in the seasonal evolution and setting of the guinean coastal rainfall