Sustainable Innovations on Arable Farms – Uptake and Effects

Summary

This PhD looks at how innovative crop farming practices can help to combat environmental degradation while keeping yield levels high. Particularly, the adoption of microbial applications by farmers and their effect on farm sustainability was studied. Microbial applications are combinations of bacteria, fungi and viruses that farmers use as spraying applications or seed coatings.

Results show that lack of knowledge and professional support are barriers, while trust in microbial applications is an important driver to adopt. Further, risk averse farmers are less willing to adopt microbial applications. The adoption can be encouraged with informational videos.

This PhD also shows that microbial applications can positively impact on the environment in the future by reducing CO₂ emissions and active substances. Currently, however, high costs and uncertainty about their effects limit their ability to enhance farm sustainability.

This PhD also investigates the relationship between innovations and efficiency in mor general terms. Against common assumptions, this PhD shows that highly innovative farmers are not necessarily highly efficient.