Factors influencing winegrowers’ adoption of soil organic carbon sequestration practices in France

Payen, Florian Thomas and Moran, Dominic and Cahurel, Jean-Yves and Aitkenhead, Matthew and Alexander, Peter and MacLeod, Michael (2022) Factors influencing winegrowers’ adoption of soil organic carbon sequestration practices in France. Environmental Science and Policy, 128. pp. 45-55. ISSN 1462-9011

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Abstract

The adoption of soil organic carbon sequestration (SCS) practices on agricultural land offers the double advantage of offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving soil quality. However, little is known about the drivers that might influence winegrowers to adopt these practices, whose uptake remains low on viticultural land. Better understanding these drivers will be crucial to evaluate the efficacy of current policies in the viticulture sector in promoting and incentivising soil organic carbon sequestration in vineyards. This paper identified the factors influencing the adoption of SCS practices by winegrowers in France. A survey of 400 winegrowers investigated current rates of adoption and winegrowers’ perceptions of the practices. A binary logistic model suggested that winegrower’s age, being an independent winegrower, farm size, the number of workers hired, vine’s age, being certified High Environmental Value (HVE), being certified organic, practising irrigation, receiving subsidies, and winegrower’s perceived resources, attitude towards SCS practices and confidence significantly influenced the decision to adopt the practices, though their influence differed depending on the practice. The findings provide insights for GHG mitigation planning targeting the viticulture sector.