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Project title

Explaining Climate Change Mitigation Uptake Behaviour Change Dynamics: Farmers� Attitudes, Motivations, and Barriers (EMIT-CHANGE)

Primary Funding Agency

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

The agriculture sector, the main contributor to national GHG emissions (38.5%), is set to reduce its emissions by 25% (relative to 2018) by 2030. Farmers should adopt various mitigation measures. The adoption of mitigation measures are not only promoted by technological/financial supports but also are reinforced by psychosocial and cultural factors. Thus, farmers' motivations (attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, etc.) and barriers affected by the social farming context should be targeted by policy, initiative, and extension programmes. This project applies a bottom-up mixed-method farmer-centric research to: 1) Explain the pathway of decision-making (what measures are perceived �effortless� and what are perceived �effortful� based on attitude, values, norms, perception etc.). 2) Explaining the level of adoption (various mitigation measures) and the stages of behaviour change (what is the level of adoption of diverse measures? What measures farmers are leading and what are lagging? How adoption of mitigation measures are associated?) 3) Understand the key drivers, and main barriers affecting mitigation measures adoption (how is decision-making initiated, consolidated and sustained? how attitudes, perceptions, norms, and values are shaped? How motivations and barriers influence different stages of behaviour change); 4) Analyse the typology of farmers based on the stages of behaviour change (who are farmers that have adopted, been adopting, considering/thinking, willing to adopt, not willing non-adopters? What motivations and barriers, influential bodies and knowledge exchange needs to be targeted)? This research applies a bottom-up mixed methodology approach encompassing systematic literature reviews (grey and scientific), in-depth interviews of 30 farmers and 3 focus groups of advisors, a nationally representative survey (n = 300-400) using the most proper developed socio-cognition theory (s). To provide a bottom-up evidence-based interventions map to inform the tailored policy (schemes), initiatives, and knowledge exchange solutions, a multi-stakeholder knowledge exchange workshop will be organised to discuss the findings and the interventions map.

Grant Approved

�249,200.81

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

3. Climate Solutions, Transition Management and Opportunities

Start Date

01/04/2025

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/03/2027