Summary
This study applies behavioural-change theory and segmentation research to develop a typology of European farmers with respect to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption. Drawing on a five-country survey of 603 farmers, the authors identified four farmer types with distinct profiles of capability, opportunity and motivation, ranging from environmentalists with high adoption intent to traditionalists facing the strongest barriers across all dimensions. The findings provide a framework for tailoring policy and intervention strategies to address the heterogeneous needs and constraints of different farmer groups.
UK applicability
The typology and COM-B framework could usefully inform UK agricultural policy design and extension services seeking to promote sustainable farming practices, though application would require validation with UK farmer populations and consideration of UK-specific policy contexts, market structures and regional farming diversity.
Key measures
Farmer segmentation based on COM-B model components (psychological capability, physical opportunity, social opportunity, reflective motivation, automatic motivation); intention to adopt climate-smart agriculture; barriers and drivers to adoption by farmer type
Outcomes reported
The study classified 603 European farmers into four distinct typologies (environmentalists, constrained, indifferents, and traditionalists) based on capability, opportunity and motivation factors from the COM-B behavioural-change model. It identified specific barriers and drivers for climate-smart agriculture adoption across these farmer groups and linked these to tailored policy and strategy interventions.
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