Session 3: 14.00 -15.30
Behavioural Change - Challenging Mindsets or Accentuating the Positive
Chair: Dr Sara McGuckin, Head of Science, Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Invited Speaker: Prof Moira Dean, Chair in Consumer Psychology and Food Security, QUB
'Farmers and veterinarians’ behaviours and attitudes to on farm antimicrobial and barriers to the adoption of more prudent approaches'
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health risk which affects humans and animals resulting in a significant loss of effectiveness of medication used to treat illness. Antimicrobials have been used in farming for decades, suggesting habitual behavioural patterns which are socially and culturally ingrained. In recent years antimicrobial use in agriculture has come under the spotlight with new policies restricting antimicrobial usage coming into effect. This presentation provides an understanding of farmers’ and veterinarians’ current attitudes and behaviours to highlight barriers in relation to antimicrobial usage and alternatives approaches. These findings will inform antimicrobial stewardship strategies which support and empower both vets and farmers to make changes on farms focusing on maintaining animal welfare while improving overall herd health, while reducing reliance on antimicrobials.
AFBI Speaker: Dr Simone Angioloni, Senior Research Economist.
'Effects of risk and uncertainty on farmers’ adoption of voluntary measures to promote conservation and restoration of water bodies in Northern Ireland'
A series of behavioural experiments were employed to study how environmental risk and uncertainty affect farmers’ decisions to enter land under agri-environmental management measures (EFS – Wider options). Results indicate farmers reduce their environmental commitment (land area) when exposed to risk and uncertainty, either deriving from the environmental threshold or from the economic loss resulting from environmental damage. The results will help inform future policy development.
AFBI Speaker: Dr Cathy Glass, Senior Research Economist
'Delivering connective-Nature Based Solutions: barriers faced by farmers and potential solutions'
Creating networks of Nature Based Solutions (NBS), such as riparian zones and the planting of trees/wild flower margins have the potential to deliver economic benefits to both land-owners and wider society, the latter attracting funding from agri-environment schemes. This presentation provides highlights from the Interreg project “ALICE” which explored barriers facing the implementation of NBS. It reports the findings of a qualitative study of land owners undertaken within the Carlingford Lough Catchment, identifying the barriers faced by farmers and the potential role of intermediaries in the development of connective-NBS.