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Sustainability
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Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability
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Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability in Geographic Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2024) | Viewed by 13767

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alexa Lamm

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: science communication; decision-making; policy; cognition; agriculture; water; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are faced with complicated and difficult challenges as we strive to supply and distribute enough food for an ever-expanding global population while protecting the natural environment. Policies, both regulations and incentives, impact rural economies and the entire agri-food sector.  While regulations may be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment, they can often negatively impact the social and economic sustainability of rural communities. In addition, incentive programs designed to assist farmers, and therefore ensure a stable food supply during trying times, may be perceived as unequally distributed or untimely. Naturally, farmers across the globe have emotional and logical reactions to policy discussions of all types that can be used positively to enhance dialogue or result in negative consequences. Therefore, farmers’ perceptions of policy are inherently tied to policy development and implementation alongside long-term planning.

This Special Issue will highlight research showcasing areas where farmers’ perceptions are utilized to understand the barriers and enablers associated with political planning in support of sustainability. To address the opportunities and challenges associated with all aspects of this process we welcome papers on:

The identification of farmers’ perceived political barriers and enablers of the adoption of sustainable agricultural innovations, including an evaluation of public/private partnerships and evaluations of outreach initiatives;

Case studies that elucidate specific policy situations involving rural farming communities;

Shared planning in the development of sustainable policy, encompassing collaboration between public and private sectors that include policy implications/interactions with rural farmers;

Policy modelling and associated social, economic, and environmental impacts that impact the sustainability of farming in rural areas;

Future perspectives on research advancement and outreach associated with collaborative sustainability planning that involves policy.

Dr. Alexa Lamm
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rural communities
  • farmer
  • perceptions
  • policy
  • regulation
  • incentive
  • agriculture

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1281 KiB  
Article
Understanding Farmers’ Readiness to Develop a Succession Plan: Barriers, Motivators, and Preliminary Recommendations
by Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, Casey Hartman, Ella Kim Marriott, Stefanie Phillips and Cale Scotton
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010270 - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2369
Abstract
Although succession planning benefits workforce development, rural economic stability, and the sustainability of a farm, few farmers in Canada have a written succession plan. As the farming population ages and fewer people enter the profession, understanding what promotes farmers to prepare succession plans [...] Read more.
Although succession planning benefits workforce development, rural economic stability, and the sustainability of a farm, few farmers in Canada have a written succession plan. As the farming population ages and fewer people enter the profession, understanding what promotes farmers to prepare succession plans is essential. Our study aimed to understand (a) the priorities farm operators have for developing a succession plan, (b) the factors that delay or motivate succession planning, and (c) the resources that would be helpful for creating a succession plan. Using dyadic multiple case study methodology, we interviewed 35 participants from 16 farms in Alberta, Canada. The thematic analysis revealed seven themes influencing decisions to develop a succession plan: legacy and identity, physical health, government policies, farm growth, professional guidance and expertise, family dynamics, and farm culture norms. From the themes, two overarching variables—risk perception and self-efficacy—shaped farmers’ readiness for succession planning and informed the development of the Farm Succession Readiness Framework. This framework categorizes farmers into four types: Active Planners, Succession Avoiders, Back Burners, and End-of-the-Line Farmers. Farm succession planning is complex and multifaceted, and our findings may assist advisors, policymakers, and researchers in understanding farmers and tailoring interventions to meet their needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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19 pages, 2296 KiB  
Article
Communication Strategies for Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Thailand
by Sukanya Sereenonchai and Noppol Arunrat
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410898 - 12 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1278
Abstract
Urban agriculture (UA) is being increasingly embraced to improve access to healthy food and enhance urban aesthetics. This study explores the framing of urban agricultural knowledge disseminated via social media through a coding framework and content analysis of eleven clips from the Sustainable [...] Read more.
Urban agriculture (UA) is being increasingly embraced to improve access to healthy food and enhance urban aesthetics. This study explores the framing of urban agricultural knowledge disseminated via social media through a coding framework and content analysis of eleven clips from the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (Thailand) on Facebook and YouTube. It also examines factors influencing satisfaction using the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and proposes practical communication strategies. A survey of 200 experienced viewers was conducted and analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0. The findings from both analyses were used to develop communication strategies. Key results showed that leading farmers framed their messages by explaining actions, reasoning, outcomes, and associated health benefits. Clear, easy-to-understand messages drive higher engagement on social media by being accessible, memorable, emotionally appealing, and shareable. Source credibility and information quality significantly influence satisfaction with urban agriculture. Including self-efficacy as a moderating factor, along with source credibility and interactivity, also significantly impacts knowledge satisfaction. An integrated approach to promoting source credibility, information quality, interactivity, accessibility, and self-efficacy in urban agriculture should focus on community-led initiatives, feedback loops, and collaboration with local governments and schools, particularly in sustainability efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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27 pages, 6644 KiB  
Article
Assessing Produce Growers’ Perceptions and Adoption of Agricultural Water Safety Practices in the United States
by Dharmendra Kalauni, Laura A. Warner, Matt Benge and Michelle D. Danyluk
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7635; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177635 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2531
Abstract
The Produce Rule regulates food safety among produce growers in the United States. Policy exemptions (e.g., for farms with average produce sales under USD 30,000 over three years) pose a threat to local food safety, particularly given exempt growers’ role in fresh produce [...] Read more.
The Produce Rule regulates food safety among produce growers in the United States. Policy exemptions (e.g., for farms with average produce sales under USD 30,000 over three years) pose a threat to local food safety, particularly given exempt growers’ role in fresh produce production. Understanding exempt growers’ perceptions of food safety practices and the factors influencing their voluntary adoption is crucial. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted to assess growers’ current engagement, their perceptions of agricultural water safety practices, and their influence on adoption decisions. The findings indicate inadequate engagement with agricultural water safety practices, with production water-related safety practices showing higher engagement compared to post-harvest water practices. Overall, growers reported favorable perceptions toward agricultural water safety practices. The perceived compatibility, relative advantage, and observability predicted adoption decisions among exempt growers, with the perceived compatibility being the strongest predictor. Policymakers and education professionals should design strategies and tailored educational interventions and messaging for exempt growers to emphasize the compatibility, relative advantage, and observability of agricultural water safety practices. Furthermore, it is recommended to explore policies and other mechanisms to increase the perceived relative advantage (immediacy of rewards and direct benefits) for exempt growers to promote voluntary adoption of these on-farm food safety practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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21 pages, 1242 KiB  
Article
The Decision-Making and Moderator Effects of Transaction Costs, Service Satisfaction, and the Stability of Agricultural Productive Service Contracts: Evidence from Farmers in Northeast China
by Ying Xue, Hongbin Liu, Zhenzhen Chai and Zimo Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4371; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114371 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1563
Abstract
Agricultural producer service (APS) plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of modern agriculture. Enhancing the stability of contracts between farmers and APS is the key to promoting the high-quality development of the latter. This research aimed to explore the decision-making and [...] Read more.
Agricultural producer service (APS) plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of modern agriculture. Enhancing the stability of contracts between farmers and APS is the key to promoting the high-quality development of the latter. This research aimed to explore the decision-making and moderator effects of transaction costs, service satisfaction, and the stability of APS contracts by constructing a theoretical framework. Based on survey data from 893 farmers in Northeast China’s black soil area, we employed the Mvprobit model to examine the relationship between transaction costs, service satisfaction, and contract stability. The key findings are as follows: Firstly, transaction costs have a dual impact on contract stability in agricultural productive services, acting as both inhibitors and promoters. Higher information and execution costs reduce farmers’ willingness to maintain current cooperative relationships, while higher negotiation costs make farmers more inclined to stick with the status quo. Secondly, farmers’ satisfaction with services positively moderates the influence of transaction costs on contract stability, with highly satisfied farmers being more affected than those with lower satisfaction levels. Lastly, farmers’ personal, family, and social characteristics all shape their preferences during the formation process. To mitigate cooperation risks and bolster cooperation contract stability, this study suggests that the government implement supervision and incentives to reduce transaction costs for farmers when procuring services and enhance the efficiency of farmer–service provider connections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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24 pages, 730 KiB  
Article
Research on Financial Poverty Alleviation Aid for Increasing the Incomes of Low-Income Chinese Farmers
by Huibo Pan, Lili Yao, Chenhe Zhang, Yuchi Zhang and Yuying Gao
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031057 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2338
Abstract
Unlike the definition of absolute poverty in international society, rural poverty in China is characterized by farmers’ low ability to increase their income, and the unsustainability of income increases. This study examines farming households’ issues with increasing their incomes via financial aid from [...] Read more.
Unlike the definition of absolute poverty in international society, rural poverty in China is characterized by farmers’ low ability to increase their income, and the unsustainability of income increases. This study examines farming households’ issues with increasing their incomes via financial aid from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Through quantile regression and stepwise regression models, this paper studies two ways in which IFAD loan projects can affect farmers’ income: by directly promoting increases in farmers’ income and by indirectly promoting increases in farmers’ income through newly operational agricultural entities. This paper uses the entropy weight and comprehensive evaluation methods to construct an IFAD evaluation index system to evaluate the endogenous development ability of farmers participating in IFAD loan projects. Our empirical results show that IFAD projects significantly and positively affect farmers’ income. Our heterogeneity analysis shows that IFAD projects have varied effects on farmers’ income growth at different income levels; the lower the income level, the more pronounced the promotion. IFAD loan projects promote farmers’ incomes through newly operational agricultural entities, the mechanism of which is their ESG performances. On average, the anti-poverty masses and areas participating in IFAD loan projects show a robust endogenous development impetus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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Review

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21 pages, 584 KiB  
Review
A Review of Sustainable Indices Relevant to the Agri-Food Industry
by Tebila Nakelse and Elliott Dennis
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8232; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188232 - 21 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
In recent years, sustainable practices have become increasingly important in global food production, with a growing emphasis on monitoring and verifying environmentally friendly and socially responsible processes. This paper reviews a comprehensive list of 331 sustainability indices, certifications, and standards used worldwide. We [...] Read more.
In recent years, sustainable practices have become increasingly important in global food production, with a growing emphasis on monitoring and verifying environmentally friendly and socially responsible processes. This paper reviews a comprehensive list of 331 sustainability indices, certifications, and standards used worldwide. We categorized each metric, assessed their key attributes, and compared the focus and measurement practices between food and non-food sustainability metrics. Our comparative analysis highlights significant differences between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, particularly emphasizing the need for improved measurement frameworks in the beef industry regarding GHG emissions, water use, soil health, and animal welfare. We then demonstrate how these metrics can be applied to the beef production system, identifying potential gaps in existing indices that could be more comprehensive in encompassing environmental, social, and economic aspects. By synthesizing existing knowledge and pinpointing areas for further research, this review aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts to promote sustainable agricultural production and consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Policies, Farmers’ Perceptions and Planning: Enhancing Collaborative Sustainability)
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