Triggering Change: Towards a Conceptualisation of Major Change Processes in Farm Decision-Making
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In this paper, we present a broad conceptualisation of major change in farm level trajectories. We argue that as a result of path dependency, major changes in farming practice primarily occur in response to 'trigger events', after which farm managers intensify their consideration of the options open to them, and may set a new course of action. In undertaking new actions, the farm system enters a period of instability, while new practices become established. Over time these new practices, if successfully achieving anticipated aims, lead to a further period of path dependency. Recognising and capitalising upon this pattern of events is important for the development of policies oriented towards incentivising major change in farming practices, and may explain why similar projects and/or policies influence some 'types' of farmers differently, and at different times. To illustrate our arguments, examples of this process are described in relation to empirical examples of major on-farm change processes, drawn from qualitative interviews with organic and conventional farmers in two English case study areas.
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New farmers may find it difficult to transition from the old conventional production-based paradigm to an agroecological one.
“An example is in the case of succession [33], where new farmers may find it difficult to transition from the old conventional productionbased paradigm to an agroecological one.”
From Grassland-Based Farming Systems Targeting Agroecology: Which Indicators Should Be Used for On-Farm Assessment? (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
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“An example is in the case of succession [33], where new farmers may find it difficult to transition from the old conventional production-based paradigm to an agroecological one.”
- Authors
- Sutherland, L.-A., Burton, R. J. F., Ingram, J., Blackstock, K., Slee, B., & Gotts, N.
- Affiliations
- James Hutton Institute (GB)
- Ruralis - Institute for Rural and Regional Research (NO)
- Countryside and Community Research Institute (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sutherland, Lee-Ann
- Venue
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-08
- Volume
- 104
- Pages
- 142-151
- ISSN
- 0301-4797 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2021087969
- Cited by
- 260
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 29.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- orcid.org
- Locations
- Journal of Environmental Management (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Keywords
- major change, agricultural decision-making, path dependence, triggering events, organic farming, conventional farming, agricultural policy
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Decision Making
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