Determinants of the Willingness of Belgian Farmers to Participate in Agri‐environmental Measures

TLDR

The study investigates Belgian farmers’ willingness to adopt two voluntary agri‑environmental policies. Using survey data, the authors model farmers’ contingent behaviour with a micro‑economic framework and estimate a probit model to test the influence of decision‑making characteristics. Results confirm that expected production impacts and a positive environmental attitude—especially among younger, better‑educated farmers—significantly drive participation, while farm size and prior experience of farmers or neighbors also influence decisions.

Abstract

This paper explores the willingness of Belgian farmers to participate in two voluntary agri‐environmental policies. Farmers' contingent behaviour is analysed on the basis of survey data. Derivations based on a conceptual micro‐economic model indicate that decision subject and decision maker characteristics are important for farmers' participation. The model is empirically tested through the specification and estimation of a probit model. Consistency is found between the theoretical framework and the empirical results indicating that both the expected effect on farm production and the farmers' environmental attitude, which is more positive among younger and better educated farmers, are significant determinants of the acceptance rate of agri‐environmental policies. Other variables which influence participation decisions are farm size and previous experience of farmers themselves or of neighbouring farmers with agri‐environmental measures.