IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i3p446-d1596240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Identifying Barriers to Implementation of Regenerative Agricultural Solutions Through Convergence Research

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah G. McCarthy

    (School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA)

  • Richard R. Rushforth

    (School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA)

Abstract

Aridification in the U.S. Southwest has led to tension about conservation and land management strategy. Strain on multi-generational agricultural livelihoods and nearly 150-year-old Colorado River water adjudication necessitates solutions from transdisciplinary partnerships. In this study, farmers and ranchers in a small San Juan River headwater community of southwestern Colorado engaged in a participatory, convergent research study prioritizing local objectives and policy. Acknowledging the historic and sometimes perceived role of academic institutions as representing urban interests, our goal was to highlight how research can support rural governance. This process involved creating community partnerships, analyzing data, and supporting results distribution to the surveyed population through social media. The survey was designed to support a local waterway management plan. Survey results showed lack of water availability and climate changes were selected by producers as most negatively affecting their operations, and many were extremely interested in agroforestry methods and drought-resistant crop species. Statistical analysis identified that satisfaction with community resources was positively correlated with scale of production, satisfaction with irrigation equipment, and familiarity with water rights. We hope to contribute our framework of a convergent, place-based research design for wider applications in other regions to uncover solutions to resource challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah G. McCarthy & Richard R. Rushforth, 2025. "Identifying Barriers to Implementation of Regenerative Agricultural Solutions Through Convergence Research," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:446-:d:1596240
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/446/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/446/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brittney Goodrich & Marieke Fenton & Jerrod Penn & John Bovay & Travis Mountain, 2023. "Battling bots: Experiences and strategies to mitigate fraudulent responses in online surveys," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(2), pages 762-784, June.
    2. Efryta Wulan Anggraeni & Yuanita Handayati & Santi Novani, 2022. "Improving Local Food Systems through the Coordination of Agriculture Supply Chain Actors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Chittaranjan Ray & David McInnes & Matthew Sanderson, 2018. "Virtual water: its implications on agriculture and trade," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 717-730, August.
    4. Skaalsveen, Kamilla & Ingram, Julie & Urquhart, Julie, 2020. "The role of farmers' social networks in the implementation of no-till farming practices," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    5. Fink, A. & Kosecoff, J. & Chassin, M. & Brook, R.H., 1984. "Consensus methods: Characteristics and guidelines for use," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 74(9), pages 979-983.
    6. Thomas, Emma & Riley, Mark & Spees, Jack, 2020. "Knowledge flows: Farmers’ social relations and knowledge sharing practices in ‘Catchment Sensitive Farming’," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blazquez-Soriano, Amparo & Ramos-Sandoval, Rosmery, 2022. "Information transfer as a tool to improve the resilience of farmers against the effects of climate change: The case of the Peruvian National Agrarian Innovation System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    2. Shannon Li & Anne Honey & Francesca Coniglio & Peter Schaecken, 2022. "Mental Health Peer Worker Perspectives on Resources Developed from Lived Experience Research Findings: A Delphi Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Ruifeng Liu & Jian Wang & Mengling Tian & Yefan Nian & Wei Ren & Hengyun Ma & Fei Liang, 2025. "Farmers’ adoption of green prevention and control technology in China: does information awareness matter?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Dagmar Wicklow & Sally Shortall, 2025. "Power positions in the farm family, marrying in, and negative peer pressure: the social relations that impact agricultural practice," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 749-763, June.
    5. Kerstin Schreiber & Bernard Soubry & Carley Dove-McFalls & Graham K. MacDonald, 2023. "Untangling the role of social relationships for overcoming challenges in local food systems: a case study of farmers in Québec, Canada," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 141-156, March.
    6. Mitra Hannani & Marc Bascompta & Mojtaba Gerami Sabzevar & Hesam Dehghani & Ali Asghar Khajevandi, 2023. "Causal Analysis of Safety Risk Perception of Iranian Coal Mining Workers Using Fuzzy Delphi and DEMATEL," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, September.
    7. Van Wyngaarden, Sarah & Anders, Sven & Davidson, Debra, 2024. "How farmer preferences and climate change beliefs shape BMP adoption," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    8. Oladele, Oladimeji Idowu & Nthama, Nthapeliseng, 2024. "Effects of Information Providers, Channels and Types on the Adoption of Climate – Resilient Practices in Lesotho," Problems of World Agriculture / Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, vol. 24(3), September.
    9. Diandian Hao & Ziyi Yan & Yanan Wang & Bowen Wang, 2022. "Effect of Village Informal Institutions and Cadre-Mass Relationship for Farmers’ Participation in Rural Residential Environment Governance in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Seungryong Choi & Keuntae Cho, 2025. "A Scenario-Based Approach to Using Electric Vehicle Batteries in Virtual Power Plants: Insights from Environmental, Social, and Governance and Monte Carlo Simulations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-34, April.
    11. Rosalia Filippini & Maria Elena Marescotti & Eugenio Demartini & Anna Gaviglio, 2020. "Social Networks as Drivers for Technology Adoption: A Study from a Rural Mountain Area in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Ying Song & Lu Li & Stavros Sindakis & Sakshi Aggarwal & Charles Chen & Saloome Showkat, 2024. "Examining E-Commerce Adoption in Farmer Entrepreneurship and the Role of Social Networks: Data from China," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 8290-8326, June.
    13. David Weisberger & Melissa Ann Ray & Nicholas T. Basinger & Jennifer Jo Thompson, 2024. "Chemical, ecological, other? Identifying weed management typologies within industrialized cropping systems in Georgia (U.S.)," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(3), pages 935-953, September.
    14. Qin, Zhanbo & Xu, Qinxue & Zhang, Changping & Zuo, Lanlan & Chen, Lingling & Fang, Rongjie, 2024. "Social network shapes farmers’ non-point source pollution governance behavior – A case study in the Lijiang River Basin, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    15. Peterson, Hikaru Hanawa & Bozich, Madison, 2024. "Regional Differences in Food Supply Chain Resiliency: An Equilibrium Displacement Analysis of the US Dairy Market," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 344027, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    16. Bertolozzi-Caredio, Daniele & Bardají, Isabel & Garrido, Alberto & Berry, Robert & Bijttebier, Jo & Gavrilescu, Camelia & Harizanova, Hristina & Jendrzejewski, Błażej & Meuwissen, Miranda M.P. & Ollen, 2021. "Stakeholder perspectives to improve risk management in European farming systems," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 84, pages 147-161.
    17. Gustavo Adolfo Gutiérrez Garcia & Isabel Gutiérrez-Montes & Juan Carlos Suárez Salazar & Fernando Casanoves & David Ricardo Gutiérrez Suárez & Héctor Eduardo Hernández-Núñez & Cornelia Butler Flora & , 2025. "Contribution of local knowledge in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) to the well‑being of cocoa families in Colombia: a response from the relationship," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(1), pages 461-484, March.
    18. Ravonne A. Green, 2014. "The Delphi Technique in Educational Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, April.
    19. Xuehao Bi & Bo Wen & Wei Zou, 2022. "The Role of Internet Development in China’s Grain Production: Specific Path and Dialectical Perspective," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
    20. Fabian Klebl & Peter H. Feindt & Annette Piorr, 2024. "Farmers’ behavioural determinants of on-farm biodiversity management in Europe: a systematic review," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(2), pages 831-861, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:446-:d:1596240. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.