A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review

In order to tackle biodiversity decline, various Agri-Environmental Programmes (AEPs) have been established in intensive farming countries. Farmers play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity. Therefore, understanding farmers’ participation in AEPs is of vital importance. Yet, a theory-driven unde...

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Main Authors: Bibi Witvliet, Huub Ploegmakers, Sander Meijerink
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14735903.2024.2322251
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author Bibi Witvliet
Huub Ploegmakers
Sander Meijerink
author_facet Bibi Witvliet
Huub Ploegmakers
Sander Meijerink
author_sort Bibi Witvliet
collection DOAJ
description In order to tackle biodiversity decline, various Agri-Environmental Programmes (AEPs) have been established in intensive farming countries. Farmers play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity. Therefore, understanding farmers’ participation in AEPs is of vital importance. Yet, a theory-driven understanding of what AEP strategies need to be implemented in which context to motivate farmers to work on AEPs is lacking. We aimed to close this gap by identifying Programme Theories (PTs) for the design and implementation of successful AEPs. We performed a realist review to identify causal relationships between agri-environmental strategies (S), their outcomes (O), and the contextual factors (C) and motivational mechanisms (M) that explain how, when and why AEP outcomes were achieved. The identified strategy-context-mechanism-outcome (SCMO) configurations and underlying theories were clustered on the C–M relationship to develop PTs. 47 studies were included. Based on the available evidence on more than 60 AEPs in 17 intensive farming countries, 10 interrelated PTs were identified. These 10 PTs form a theory-driven framework that summarizes the insights into how, when and why farmers work on successful AEPs. Each PT provides practical insights into the agri-environmental strategies and necessary contextual factors and mechanisms to guide farmers’ behavioural change toward biodiversity conservation.
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spelling doaj-art-77baccb9c37843dca3e6504cc5bfaed52025-08-20T02:46:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2024-12-0122110.1080/14735903.2024.2322251A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist reviewBibi Witvliet0Huub Ploegmakers1Sander Meijerink2Institute for Management Research, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsInstitute for Management Research, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsInstitute for Management Research, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsIn order to tackle biodiversity decline, various Agri-Environmental Programmes (AEPs) have been established in intensive farming countries. Farmers play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity. Therefore, understanding farmers’ participation in AEPs is of vital importance. Yet, a theory-driven understanding of what AEP strategies need to be implemented in which context to motivate farmers to work on AEPs is lacking. We aimed to close this gap by identifying Programme Theories (PTs) for the design and implementation of successful AEPs. We performed a realist review to identify causal relationships between agri-environmental strategies (S), their outcomes (O), and the contextual factors (C) and motivational mechanisms (M) that explain how, when and why AEP outcomes were achieved. The identified strategy-context-mechanism-outcome (SCMO) configurations and underlying theories were clustered on the C–M relationship to develop PTs. 47 studies were included. Based on the available evidence on more than 60 AEPs in 17 intensive farming countries, 10 interrelated PTs were identified. These 10 PTs form a theory-driven framework that summarizes the insights into how, when and why farmers work on successful AEPs. Each PT provides practical insights into the agri-environmental strategies and necessary contextual factors and mechanisms to guide farmers’ behavioural change toward biodiversity conservation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14735903.2024.2322251Agri-environmental programmesnature conservationfarmland biodiversityrealist reviewagriculturefarmer behaviour
spellingShingle Bibi Witvliet
Huub Ploegmakers
Sander Meijerink
A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Agri-environmental programmes
nature conservation
farmland biodiversity
realist review
agriculture
farmer behaviour
title A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
title_full A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
title_fullStr A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
title_full_unstemmed A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
title_short A theory-driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri-environmental programmes: results of a realist review
title_sort theory driven framework for the design and implementation of successful agri environmental programmes results of a realist review
topic Agri-environmental programmes
nature conservation
farmland biodiversity
realist review
agriculture
farmer behaviour
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14735903.2024.2322251
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