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How much is policy driving the adoption of cover crops? Evidence from four EU regions

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  • Kathage, Jonas
  • Smit, Bert
  • Janssens, Bas
  • Haagsma, Wiepie
  • Adrados, Jose Luis

Abstract

EU agriculture is facing increasing expectations and pressure from society and policymakers to support environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Catch and cover crops (CCC) are an underused farming practice that can potentially contribute towards these goals. Previous research is sparse and has yielded few relevant insights into CCC adoption behaviour by farmers. In this study we analyse a dataset from farm surveys in four EU regions to better understand the role of policy and non-policy factors in CCC adoption. Our data suggests that adoption rates vary widely between regions, while farm adoption intensities are low. We find that policy is by far the strongest determinant of adoption rates and adoption intensities. CCC adoption patterns have been shaped mainly by the Nitrates Directive and the Common Agricultural Policy's greening requirements. Agronomic motives are a third but much weaker impetus for adoption. Environmental and climate change considerations do not play a significant role in farmers' adoption decisions. Most non-adopters would likely become adopters if stronger policy obligations or additional subsidies were implemented. Non-adopters‘ responsiveness to subsidies and willingness to accept is highly varied but only weakly predictable from easily observed farm characteristics.

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  • Kathage, Jonas & Smit, Bert & Janssens, Bas & Haagsma, Wiepie & Adrados, Jose Luis, 2022. "How much is policy driving the adoption of cover crops? Evidence from four EU regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:116:y:2022:i:c:s0264837722000436
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106016
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    1. Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio & Lauri Jauhiainen & Tuomas J. Mattila & Juuso Joona & Tony Hydén & Hannu Känkänen, 2022. "Pioneering Farmers Value Agronomic Performance of Cover Crops and Their Impacts on Soil and Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Jantiene E. M. Baartman & Joao Pedro Nunes & Hedwig van Delden & Roel Vanhout & Luuk Fleskens, 2022. "The Effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on Soil Erosion and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks across Europe: A Simulation Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Wu, Linghui & Khanna, Madhu & Atallah, Shadi S., 2023. "Drivers and barriers to adopting a cover cropping technology among midwestern farmers," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335568, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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