A review of research on farmers' perspectives and attitudes towards carbon farming as a climate change mitigation strategy

Sammanfattning

There is a growing emphasis on carbon farming, a set of land management and farming practices aimed at sequestering soil organic carbon and abating greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production, as a potential climate mitigation strategy, with numerous farms participating in voluntary carbon offset schemes, often supported by national initiatives in various countries. This report reviews the academic literature on what this new climate-mitigating strategy may entail for farmers and how they perceive the potential possibility of adopting carbon farming practices, including their views on policy or market schemes for carbon farming. While there is general positivity towards the farming practices associated with carbon farming, due to their co-benefits, such as improved soil health and productivity, adoption is hindered by several factors. Different studies report that farmers express scepticism about the feasibility of carbon farming, particularly concerning the high initial costs of adopting new practices, bureaucratic hurdles, lack of information, inadequate training, and the long-term commitment required. Additionally, the heterogeneity of farms and local conditions means that the benefits of carbon farming are not uniformly experienced, with smaller farms and those with less fertile soils being less likely to benefit.

Research also explores farmers' beliefs and environmental values as influencing their attitudes towards carbon farming, with inconclusive findings regarding the relations between perceptions and awareness of issues like climate change and the uptake of practices. A couple of studies highlight how socio-psychological factors like cultural traditions and the influence of peers, personal values, and structural constraints all play significant roles in shaping farmers' responses to farming strategies. Variations in perceptions of climate change and the effectiveness of carbon farming practices add further complexity to understanding adoption.

Several studies exploring farmers' perceptions of carbon farming schemes identify economic incentives as a key driver for farmer involvement, with the potential for additional income being a significant motivator. Nonetheless, research also shows that financial compensation is often seen as inadequate, and concerns are raised about the fairness and transparency of market-based mechanisms. This review also notes that the focus on economic drivers and the commercialization of carbon farming may undermine intrinsic motivations for sustainable practices and lead to resistance among farmers.

Looking forward, a number of themes can be identified for further research. These include studies looking beyond individual farmer attitudes and individual farms to wider cultural and political factors; attention to the impact of noneconomic factors for carbon farming adoption; longitudinal studies; studies focusing on resource constrained smallholders and those farming in marginal and less productivce environments; and inter- or transdisciplinary approaches that jointly evaluate the different factors that influence adoption or non-adoption of carbon farming measures.

Nyckelord

farmers; carbon farming; soil carbon sequestration; agriculture; perceptions; attitudes; motivations

Publicerad i

Urban and rural reports
2024, nummer: 2024:5
Utgivare: Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

• Figueredo, Alejandra

  • Institutionen för stad och land, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap
Företagsekonomi

Publikationens identifierare

• eISBN: 978-91-85735-67-9

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139340