Across Europe, recent farmer backlash against agricultural policy, and its associated constraints on farming practices, havehighlighted the challenge of an accelerated transition to new environmental norms and practices. Low-carbon agricultural systems – although offering the potential for new revenue streams – have a potentially disruptive effect on established farming norms and may aggravate wider sustainability issues (eg, succession and economic viability). In a recent study, Ulster University Business School and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute explored the prospects and challenges for enhancing environmental sustainability among beef and sheep farmers in the hills and uplands of Northern Ireland. The study engaged with farmers and stakeholders across Northern Ireland, exploring farmers’ experiences of agri-environmental
policy and practices, and their receptiveness to future on-farm environmental actions.
Dr Paul Caskie, Head of Economics Research at the Agri-Food
and Biosciences Institute, highlighted the importance of the
study, and how “agri-environmental schemes can play a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture and conserving valuable natural resources, such as
our peatlands here in Northern Ireland. Farmers are aware of the impact of farm practices on the environment and are increasingly open to adopting new approaches, if the correct incentives and supports are in place”.
The results of the study highlighted overlapping links between
place, identity, and behaviour. Firstly, hill and upland farmers
perceived themselves as different from lowland farmers, noting
productivity constraints, extensive farming systems (eg, limited use of artificial fertilisers and low stocking rates) and a unique skillset to manage the upland environment.
They viewed the extensive nature of upland farming as inherently environmentally friendly, in comparison to more intensive
forms of agriculture practiced in the lowlands.
However, farmers felt they were inadequately rewarded for the environmental services they already provided. Hill and upland farmers appeared reluctant to countenance changes that reduced agricultural capacity below current levels.
Subsidies were viewed as an imperfect but necessary instrument to maintain economic viability in hill and upland areas.
Farmers were especially negative about the top-down and inflexible approach of existing schemes, which were perceived as overly penalty-orientated. There was positivity towards
localised, collective schemes, and farmers felt they had specialist
know-how about their own farm conditions that could be usefully applied. Interestingly, there was
a desire to better understand the positive benefits of environmental actions delivered by farmers
through schemes.
There was also an openness to results-based schemes – where
payments would vary depending on the results achieved.
Reflecting on these findings, Professor Barry Quinn, Project
Lead at Ulster University Business School, discussed how “farmers’ willingness to participate in the
research displayed their genuine interest in co-designing future
schemes that could benefit farmers and rural upland areas”.
This research is part of the Behavioural Change in Hill and
Upland Farming project funded through DAERA. We thank farmers and stakeholders who participated in the research. The research team includes Prof Barry Quinn,
Dr Stuart Henderson and Dr Lynsey Hollywood (Ulster University Business School) and Dr Simone
Angioloni and Dr Paul Caskie (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute). Co-authored by Dr Lynsey
Hollywood, Dr Stuart Henderson,
Professor Barry Quinn, Dr Simone
Angioloni and Dr Paul Caskie.