Farmers' attitudes toward the use of digital technologies in the context of agri-environmental policies

• Published in: Agricultural systems 2024-12, Vol.221, p.104129, Article 104129
• Main Authors: Granado-Díaz, Rubén, Colombo, Sergio, Romero-Varo, Marina, Villanueva, Anastasio J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agri-environmental schemes; Agricultural digitalization; Agriculture 4.0; Latent class analysis; Results-based payments
• ISSN: 0308-521X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104129

Environmental policies are increasingly relying on digitalization to improve efficiency. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on farmers' attitudes toward digitally-based environmental policies. This paper contributes to the literature by providing quantitative insights on farmers' attitudes in such contexts, focusing on the use of digital technologies for the implementation of results-based agri-environmental policy. The analysis focuses on the case study of the implementation of innovative, digitally- and results-based agri-environment and climate schemes in two Mediterranean agri-systems: Mediterranean oak savannah (dehesa) and sloping olive groves (SOG). The assessment relies on a latent class analysis using survey data from a large sample of southern Spanish farmers. In addition, a Step-3 model was used to identify determinants of farmers' class membership. The results show a high degree of heterogeneity in farmers' attitudes, with three different classes of farmers identified: proactive, skeptical, and reluctant farmers (membership probability of 0.62, 0.25, and 0.13, respectively), basically showing positive, mixed, and negative attitudes toward using digital technologies in environmental policies. Class belonging is determined by farm and farmer characteristics (especially the farm's main agri-system, family labor use, and farmer's education level and age), farmer attitudes (toward environmental results and their certification), and specific agri-system features (economic dependence). The results are useful for better tailoring digitally-based agri-environmental policies; the diverse costs and benefits that different farmers can expect from the introduction of digital technologies in policy implementation and monitoring should be carefully considered. [Display omitted] •The use of digital tools has the potential to improve environmental policy efficiency.•Farmers' attitudes toward digitalized environmental policies are analyzed.•Three classes of farmers are found: Proactive (62 %); Skeptical (25 %); Reluctant (13 %).•Class membership determined by farm (agri-system, family labor, etc.) and farmer (e.g. age and education) characteristics.•Main policy implications relate to tailoring policy actions differently depending on the class.