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A new approach for comparing and categorizing farmers’ systems of practice based on cognitive mapping and graph theory indicators

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  • Vanwindekens, Frédéric M.
  • Baret, Philippe V.
  • Stilmant, Didier

Abstract

Farmers’ practices are characterized not only by complexity at the farm scale, but also by diversity at the regional scale. In order to assess this diversity, a systemic approach is needed for comparing and classifying systems of practice. We developed a cognitive mapping approach (CMASOP) for comparing and clustering these systems within the social–ecological environment. In this paper, we introduce the two methods we used to implement our approach and report on the results of applying them in a study of grassland management in livestock grazing systems in Belgium. The comparison showed that systems of practice categorized according to certain descriptive factors (geographical, technical orientation) had some significant differences. The clustering of cognitive maps provided the basis for establishing a typology of the systems of practice. The comparative analysis of clusters revealed very significant differences among factors closer to the studied issue (grass forage management) than was the case with the approaches based on descriptive factors. Our study demonstrated that, in studies of the diversity of systems of practice, using a combination of statistical methods and semi-qualitative modelling can take account of the inherent complexity of these systems.

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  • Vanwindekens, Frédéric M. & Baret, Philippe V. & Stilmant, Didier, 2014. "A new approach for comparing and categorizing farmers’ systems of practice based on cognitive mapping and graph theory indicators," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 274(C), pages 1-11.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:274:y:2014:i:c:p:1-11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.11.026
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    2. Evgenia Micha & Owen Fenton & Karen Daly & Gabriella Kakonyi & Golnaz Ezzati & Thomas Moloney & Steven Thornton, 2020. "The Complex Pathway towards Farm-Level Sustainable Intensification: An Exploratory Network Analysis of Stakeholders’ Knowledge and Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Victoria Alomia‐Hinojosa & Jeroen C. J. Groot & Jens A. Andersson & Erika N. Speelman & Andrew J. McDonald & Pablo Tittonell, 2023. "Assessing farmer perceptions on livestock intensification and associated trade‐offs using fuzzy cognitive maps; a study in mixed farming systems in the mid‐hills of Nepal," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 146-158, January.
    4. Meine van Noordwijk & Erika Speelman & Gert Jan Hofstede & Ai Farida & Ali Yansyah Abdurrahim & Andrew Miccolis & Arief Lukman Hakim & Charles Nduhiu Wamucii & Elisabeth Lagneaux & Federico Andreotti , 2020. "Sustainable Agroforestry Landscape Management: Changing the Game," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-38, July.
    5. Daniel C. Kenny & Juan Castilla-Rho, 2022. "What Prevents the Adoption of Regenerative Agriculture and What Can We Do about It? Lessons and Narratives from a Participatory Modelling Exercise in Australia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-30, August.
    6. Khumairoh, Uma & Teixeira, Heitor Mancini & Yadav, Sudhir & Schulte, Rogier P.O. & Batas, Mary Ann & Asmara, Degi Harja & Flor, Rica Joy & Agustina, Rohmatin & Setiawan, Adi & Nurlaelih, Euis E. & Pur, 2024. "Linking types of East Javanese rice farming systems to farmers' perceptions of complex rice systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    7. Micha, Evgenia & Fenton, Owen & Daly, Karen & Kakonyi, Gabriella & Ezzati, Golnaz & Moloney, Thomas & Thornton, Steven F, 2019. "Mapping the pathways towards farm-level sustainable intensification of agriculture: an exploratory network 3 analysis of stakeholders’ views," SocArXiv 2rqjd, Center for Open Science.
    8. Louis Tessier & Jo Bijttebier & Fleur Marchand & Philippe V. Baret, 2021. "Cognitive mapping, flemish beef farmers’ perspectives and farm functioning: a critical methodological reflection," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 1003-1019, December.
    9. Vanermen, Iris & Muys, Bart & Verheyen, Kris & Vanwindekens, Frederic & Bouriaud, Laura & Kardol, Paul & Vranken, Liesbet, 2020. "What do scientists and managers know about soil biodiversity? Comparative knowledge mapping for sustainable forest management," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    10. Castilla-Rho, Juan & Kenny, Daniel, 2022. "What prevents the adoption of regenerative agriculture and what can we do about it? Lessons from a behaviorally-attuned Participatory Modelling exercise in Australia," OSF Preprints asxr2, Center for Open Science.

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