Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology
Agro-ecology has been recognized as a potential route to realizing the multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits increasingly required of agricultural systems. However, views on what constitutes agro-ecology differ considerably between countries, and also between stakeholder groups such...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2020-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1743553 |
| _version_ | 1797681220759322624 |
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| author | Freddy van Hulst Rowan Ellis Katrin Prager Joshua Msika |
| author_facet | Freddy van Hulst Rowan Ellis Katrin Prager Joshua Msika |
| author_sort | Freddy van Hulst |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agro-ecology has been recognized as a potential route to realizing the multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits increasingly required of agricultural systems. However, views on what constitutes agro-ecology differ considerably between countries, and also between stakeholder groups such as natural scientists and farmers. To identify areas of convergence and divergence in understandings of agro-ecology in the Scottish context, we used a novel co-constructed mental modelling approach with a sample of 8 scientists and 7 farmers in the North East of Scotland. Results show that agro-ecology in Scotland is currently mainly understood as a scientific discipline applying ecological analysis to agricultural systems. Farmers’ mental models show a wider consideration of the food system, including consumer health, markets and sustainable energy. Precision farming featured prominently in farmers’ mental models but not in the scientists’ mental models. Our discussion therefore raises the question to what extent precision farming and agro-ecology support or contradict each other. We conclude that although farmers and scientists differ considerably, there are areas of shared understanding, such as the potential of novel crops and new crop rotations, which could be the starting point of working towards an agriculture that delivers multiple benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b23f43e96154941a254bb8e3438b850 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b23f43e96154941a254bb8e3438b8502023-09-19T15:22:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2020-03-0118217219510.1080/14735903.2020.17435531743553Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecologyFreddy van Hulst0Rowan Ellis1Katrin Prager2Joshua Msika3Social, Economic, and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton InstituteSocial, Economic, and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton InstituteSocial, Economic, and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton InstituteSocial, Economic, and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton InstituteAgro-ecology has been recognized as a potential route to realizing the multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits increasingly required of agricultural systems. However, views on what constitutes agro-ecology differ considerably between countries, and also between stakeholder groups such as natural scientists and farmers. To identify areas of convergence and divergence in understandings of agro-ecology in the Scottish context, we used a novel co-constructed mental modelling approach with a sample of 8 scientists and 7 farmers in the North East of Scotland. Results show that agro-ecology in Scotland is currently mainly understood as a scientific discipline applying ecological analysis to agricultural systems. Farmers’ mental models show a wider consideration of the food system, including consumer health, markets and sustainable energy. Precision farming featured prominently in farmers’ mental models but not in the scientists’ mental models. Our discussion therefore raises the question to what extent precision farming and agro-ecology support or contradict each other. We conclude that although farmers and scientists differ considerably, there are areas of shared understanding, such as the potential of novel crops and new crop rotations, which could be the starting point of working towards an agriculture that delivers multiple benefits.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1743553cognitive mapsprecision farmingsustainabilityorganicecosystem servicestransitions |
| spellingShingle | Freddy van Hulst Rowan Ellis Katrin Prager Joshua Msika Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability cognitive maps precision farming sustainability organic ecosystem services transitions |
| title | Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology |
| title_full | Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology |
| title_fullStr | Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology |
| title_short | Using co-constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro-ecology |
| title_sort | using co constructed mental models to understand stakeholder perspectives on agro ecology |
| topic | cognitive maps precision farming sustainability organic ecosystem services transitions |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1743553 |
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