Most farmers do not hold an ideological position on climate change or sustainable practices, the research project found.
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Economic pressures and exclusion from development of Government policies have been identified as the main barriers to the uptake of sustainable farming practices, new research has found.
The research carried out by the Agri Mental Health group between UCD and TU Dublin found that the main barriers to sustainable farming practices in Ireland are practical and social, rather than ideological.
The results from a number of nationwide focus groups indicate that farmers feel excluded from the development of policies that govern their practices – a situation that is leading to a lack of clarity on how to act to remain compliant.
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Results from the review suggested that up to 60% of farmers do not hold strong views on climate change itself, with only minority elements holding explicit climate change denial views.
Concern
Farmers who took part in the focus groups also expressed concern that the advice on environmental sustainability could negatively impact the economic viability of their farms.
Farmers also voiced concerns about the accuracy and consistency of scientific advice, with many adopting a “wait and see” approach when it came to making changes.
Commitment to family tradition was also a dilemma faced by many farmers, who claimed that changing practices felt like “a betrayal” of older generations’ work.
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Economic pressures and exclusion from development of Government policies have been identified as the main barriers to the uptake of sustainable farming practices, new research has found.
The research carried out by the Agri Mental Health group between UCD and TU Dublin found that the main barriers to sustainable farming practices in Ireland are practical and social, rather than ideological.
The results from a number of nationwide focus groups indicate that farmers feel excluded from the development of policies that govern their practices – a situation that is leading to a lack of clarity on how to act to remain compliant.
Results from the review suggested that up to 60% of farmers do not hold strong views on climate change itself, with only minority elements holding explicit climate change denial views.
Concern
Farmers who took part in the focus groups also expressed concern that the advice on environmental sustainability could negatively impact the economic viability of their farms.
Farmers also voiced concerns about the accuracy and consistency of scientific advice, with many adopting a “wait and see” approach when it came to making changes.
Commitment to family tradition was also a dilemma faced by many farmers, who claimed that changing practices felt like “a betrayal” of older generations’ work.
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