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 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

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

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

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

El proceso analítico jerárquico y análisis de riesgo declarado; enfoques metodológicos

Forma parte de un trabajo de investigación con una entidad gubernamental de México que es objeto de confidencialidad

El proceso analítico jerárquico y análisis de riesgo declarado; enfoques metodológicos

Forma parte de un trabajo de investigación con una entidad gubernamental de México que es objeto de confidencialidad

El proceso analítico jerárquico y análisis de riesgo declarado; enfoques metodológicos

Forma parte de un trabajo de investigación con una entidad gubernamental de México que es objeto de confidencialidad

European consumers ́ preference and willingness to pay for food products labelled as obtained by a circular farming system -in relation to environmental attitudes and consumption behaviours

Data was collected with questionnaire-based research carried out in Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Spain as part of a European project. The survey questions were designed to obtain the Willingness to pay using 2 different methodologies the discrete choice experiment and the open-end choice experiment. The survey also included questions about consumers environmental attitudes, and consumption behavior (purchase, use and recycling), to identify if them have influence on preferences towards more sustainable food products. The 3 analyzed food products were pork meat, milk and bread, all of them obtained through different agricultural production systems (circular, conventional, and organic agriculture). The sample was stratified in terms of gender and age to be representative to the average population in each country. Furthermore, respondents included in this study were those that are mainly, or in part responsible for the household food shopping. The questionnaire was translated to the languages of the countries involved in the data collection and pre-launched using a pilot sample of 50 consumers in each case study country. Finally, a total of 5,362 validated questionnaires were obtained. Data was collected online using the Qualtrics market research company, and Net panel market company for Hungary from June 2021 to January 2022