Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models
Abstract Policy instruments—such as regulation, financial incentives, and agricultural extension—are commonly applied by governments to promote sustainable agricultural practices and tackle ecosystem degradation. Despite substantial investment, little data are available to gauge the impact of evolvi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Conservation Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12988 |
| _version_ | 1797356760177049600 |
|---|---|
| author | Angela J Dean Rachel Eberhard Umberto Baresi Anthea Coggan Felicity Deane Evan Hamman Kate J. Helmstedt Barton Loechel Diane Jarvis Helen Mayfield Lillian Stevens Bruce Taylor Karen Vella |
| author_facet | Angela J Dean Rachel Eberhard Umberto Baresi Anthea Coggan Felicity Deane Evan Hamman Kate J. Helmstedt Barton Loechel Diane Jarvis Helen Mayfield Lillian Stevens Bruce Taylor Karen Vella |
| author_sort | Angela J Dean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Policy instruments—such as regulation, financial incentives, and agricultural extension—are commonly applied by governments to promote sustainable agricultural practices and tackle ecosystem degradation. Despite substantial investment, little data are available to gauge the impact of evolving policy mixes. We constructed a Bayesian network model to explore relationships between policy instruments, contextual factors, and adoption. Applying a series of scenarios, we present examples of how different instruments influence adoption and how their effectiveness is shaped by contextual factors. Scenarios highlight that the effect of policy instruments is often modest, and constrained by diverse practice and population characteristics. These findings allow us to reflect on the role of policy instruments, and the conditions necessary to support practice change. For example, our findings raise questions about the role of financial benefits versus financial capacity, and highlight the potential importance of concepts such as mental bandwidth in shaping both motivation and capacity to adopt. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:31:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b51181a03c8486d8bdc84ddc8c97264 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1755-263X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:31:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b51181a03c8486d8bdc84ddc8c972642024-01-12T09:40:09ZengWileyConservation Letters1755-263X2023-11-01166n/an/a10.1111/conl.12988Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert modelsAngela J Dean0Rachel Eberhard1Umberto Baresi2Anthea Coggan3Felicity Deane4Evan Hamman5Kate J. Helmstedt6Barton Loechel7Diane Jarvis8Helen Mayfield9Lillian Stevens10Bruce Taylor11Karen Vella12Centre for the Environment, School of Biology and Environmental Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Architecture and Built Environmental Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Architecture and Built Environmental Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Law Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Law Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Mathematical Sciences Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Brisbane AustraliaCollege of Business, Law and Governance James Cook University Townsville AustraliaSchool of Mathematical Sciences Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Architecture and Built Environmental Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Brisbane AustraliaSchool of Architecture and Built Environmental Queensland University of Technology Brisbane AustraliaAbstract Policy instruments—such as regulation, financial incentives, and agricultural extension—are commonly applied by governments to promote sustainable agricultural practices and tackle ecosystem degradation. Despite substantial investment, little data are available to gauge the impact of evolving policy mixes. We constructed a Bayesian network model to explore relationships between policy instruments, contextual factors, and adoption. Applying a series of scenarios, we present examples of how different instruments influence adoption and how their effectiveness is shaped by contextual factors. Scenarios highlight that the effect of policy instruments is often modest, and constrained by diverse practice and population characteristics. These findings allow us to reflect on the role of policy instruments, and the conditions necessary to support practice change. For example, our findings raise questions about the role of financial benefits versus financial capacity, and highlight the potential importance of concepts such as mental bandwidth in shaping both motivation and capacity to adopt.https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12988agricultural practicesbehavior changeextensionlivelihoodspractice adoptionregulation |
| spellingShingle | Angela J Dean Rachel Eberhard Umberto Baresi Anthea Coggan Felicity Deane Evan Hamman Kate J. Helmstedt Barton Loechel Diane Jarvis Helen Mayfield Lillian Stevens Bruce Taylor Karen Vella Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models Conservation Letters agricultural practices behavior change extension livelihoods practice adoption regulation |
| title | Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models |
| title_full | Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models |
| title_fullStr | Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models |
| title_short | Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models |
| title_sort | scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using bayesian expert models |
| topic | agricultural practices behavior change extension livelihoods practice adoption regulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12988 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelajdean scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT racheleberhard scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT umbertobaresi scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT antheacoggan scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT felicitydeane scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT evanhamman scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT katejhelmstedt scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT bartonloechel scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT dianejarvis scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT helenmayfield scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT lillianstevens scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT brucetaylor scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels AT karenvella scrutinizingtheimpactofpolicyinstrumentsonadoptionofagriculturalconservationpracticesusingbayesianexpertmodels |