Farmer identities and permanent grassland management: Evidence from five European biogeographic zones

Abstract

Permanent grassland (PG) provides multiple ecosystem services. However, there is increasing concern regarding the decreased multifunctionality of PGs, including those located in Europe. The decreased PG multifunctionality has been attributed to the increased intensity of PG management, where decision-making is influenced by farmers' relevant behavioural intentions and self-identities. In order to investigate how farmer identities can translate into future adoption of PG management practices, interviews (n = 373) were conducted with farmers from five European biogeographic zones. Their farms are located in Continental/Pannonian (Czech Republic), Mediterranean (Spain), Boreal (Sweden), Alpine (Switzerland) and Atlantic (United Kingdom) biogeographic regions. The data were analysed using a mixed-method approach involving thematic analysis and multinomial logistic regression. The thematic analysis enabled seven farmer ‘identity’ types to be identified. The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that productivist identity was a predictor of farmers' intention to intensify or extensify PG in future, while land caretaker identity predicted maintenance of current PG management practice. Farmers with a higher dependence on income from agri-environment schemes were more likely to extensify their PG in future, while those with a higher dependence on income from farm production were more likely to maintain current PG management practices. Older farmers were less likely to extensify their PG, and those having organic and extensive farms were more likely to intensify PG in future. Future policies and interventions that aim to increase PG-related ecosystem-service multifunctionality can be more targeted by considering specific farm attributes, farmer identities and their future PG management intentions, as well as regional differences in these. Financial benefits and risks perceived by farmers should be considered when promoting any management practices, including policy interventions and policy levers.