Using a perception matrix to elicit farmers‘ perceptions towards stakeholders in the context of biodiversity-friendly farming

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103282
• Publication Date: 2024-05-06T22:01:16Z
• Authors: Verena Scherfranz; Katie Moon; Jochen Kantelhardt; Anneli Adler; Sílvia Barreiro; Flaviu Valentin B...; Vincent Bretagnolle; Viviane Brönnimann; Jan Peter Reinier...; Alice Dos Santos; Maura Ganz; José M. Herrera; Amelia S.C. Hood; Friedrich Leisch; Alice L. Mauchline; Indrek Melts; Razvan Popa; Vanesa María Rive...; Andy Ruck; Flóra Vajna; Elena Velado-Alonso; Lena Schaller
• Keywords: 330; [SDV.SA.AEP] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Agriculture, economy and politics; policy development; perception; 630; agri-environmental policy; [SDE.ES] Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; farmers attitude; Life Science; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SDV.SA.AEP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Agriculture; economy and politics; agriculture; biodiversity

Farmers' pro-environmental action is substantially influenced by various stakeholders from their business and social environment. Recent studies recommend actively involving influential in agri-environmental initiatives, information or media campaigns. While it has been argued that farmers' perceptions towards these can help inform effective involvement, comprehensive assessments of remain scarce, particularly the context biodiversity-friendly farming. To understand compare stakeholder quantitatively, we developed applied a perception matrix. In an exploratory survey with 49 farmers across ten European countries, rated twelve groups (e.g. government bodies, farm advisors input suppliers) against eight constructs trustworthiness, interest protecting biodiversity). We found differed significantly both between constructs. Whereas several were, on average, perceived positively regarding general characteristics, such as reliability, understanding support for farming, biodiversity-related behavior were more negative. Our findings indicate potential to improve policy development implementation initiatives through involvement multiple, non-governmental, agricultural non-agricultural farming entire agri-food value chain. Such multi-stakeholder could not only reinforce biodiversity conservation among community, but society whole emphasized Convention Biological Diversity. Further research needed confirm observed trends larger, representative sample, which presented matrix well suited.