An exploration of individual, social and material factors influencing water pollution mitigation behaviours within the farming community. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Inman, Alex; Winter, Michael; Wheeler, Rebecca; Vrain, Emilie; Lovett, Andrew; Collins, Adrian; Jones, Iwan; Johnes, Penny; Cleasby, Will
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 70(2017)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Diffuse water -- Pollution -- Agriculture -- Policy -- Behaviours; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.09.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: A shift in farmer identities, beliefs and norms is required to embed mitigation behaviour. Double loop learning required to enable transition from productivist to post-productivist norms. Farmer discussion groups arranged at a local level likely to offer the best framework for learning. There is a need for expert and trusted farm advice, delivered on a one-to-one basis. Abstract: Diffuse pollution of watercourses from agriculture represents a complex and persistent environmental problem in the UK. This paper provides insights into why UK policy interventions have had limited success to date, drawing on the disciplines of psychology, sociology and behavioural economics to more thoroughly understand farmer attitudes and behaviours towards pollution mitigation. Our analysis is based on eliciting the opinions of commercial farmers through a series of surveys and discussion groups in three catchments: the grassland dominated River Eden catchment; the arable dominated River Wensum catchment and the mixed farming area of the Hampshire River Avon catchment. Results strongly suggest that a fundamental shift in identities, normative behavioural beliefs and social norms is required within the farming community before mitigation behaviours become embedded. Simply offering financial incentives or imposing regulatory penalties is unlikely to achieve the desired results. Double loop learning has the potential to enable farmers to migrate from a productivist to a multifunctional outlook where pollution mitigation becomes internalised within a farm management system. Expert farm advisors will be required to facilitate this process.