2025/07/17 by Harold Opdenbosch, Helena Hansson, Helena Nordström Källström +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Decision Sciences · #Agricultural Development and Management #Climate change impacts on agriculture #Q Methodology Applications
paper · doi:10.1080/1389224x.2025.2533173
openalex publication_date 2025/07/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Purpose: This study aims to assess the role of advisors in facilitating the upscaling of carbon farming (CF) in Swedish agriculture.Methodology: Q-methodology is used with a sample of 32 livestock producers, complemented by a participatory approach involving stakeholder engagement.Findings: Three perspectives are identified, each highlighting a specific upscaling challenge: 1) insufficient information, echoing the lack of awareness, incentives, and advice surrounding new policy objectives; 2) implementation challenges, underscoring the complexities in managing and following up on innovations; and 3) competing priorities, highlighting how economic considerations influence farmers’ decision-making.Practical implication: The results provide policy recommendations aimed at building technical capacity in advisory services, developing robust monitoring, reporting, and verification systems, and strengthening incentives and communication strategies.Theoretical implication: The Triggering Change Model is expanded to include the role of advisors at each stage of the decision-making process that farmers experience when adopting innovations, increasing the understanding of their significance in mitigation efforts.Originality/value: CF has recently gained significant policy attention in the Common Agricultural Policy due to the urgency of climate change, with advisors expected to play a crucial role in their upscaling within the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System, making this study particularly relevant for its achievement.