“It's ‘common-sense’ farming”: Exploring farmers' decision-making and behaviours towards adopting circular agricultural practices

作者：F. Barton Evans, James Gibbons, David R. Chadwick, Heli Gittins, Prysor Williams, Sophie Wynne‐Jones · 发表于：Journal of Rural Studies · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103844 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Agricultural Innovations and Practices、Organic Food and Agriculture、Innovation and Socioeconomic Development

Adoption of more circular farming systems could offer an important avenue for sustainable agricultural transitions by promoting renewable and recycled resources to reduce the need for external inputs, enhance nutrient cycling and farm profitability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study explored UK stakeholders' perceptions of circular farming practices through focus groups with 16 agricultural industry experts and policymakers, and 17 semi-structured interviews with farmers already engaged in circular practices. These were analysed using the COM-B (Capability/Opportunity/Motivation-Behaviour) model to understand factors affecting adoption. Farmers perceived circular agriculture as a ‘win-win’ solution offering economic, social and environmental benefits, bridging ‘environmentalist’ and ‘productivist’ priorities. They also recognised the principles of circularity as ‘common-sense’ and aligning with their established knowledge and values, reinforcing their identity as ‘good [food producing] farmers’. However, despite these positive perspectives, there remains a need for interventions to enhance uptake, including targeted communication strategies and knowledge exchange to promote awareness and engagement across the sector. In addition, the implementation of circular practices often necessitates collaboration at various scales, particularly in integrating crop and livestock systems. Intermediary organisations could play a vital role in facilitating these partnerships a...