The role of network bridging organisations in compensation payments for agri-environmental services under the EU Common Agricultural Policy

Compensation payments to farmers for the provision of agri-environmental services are a well-established policy scheme under the EU Common Agricultural Policy. However, in spite of the success in most EU countries in the uptake of the programme by farmers, the impact of the scheme on the long term commitment of farmers to change their practices remains poorly documented. To explore this issue, this paper presents the results of structured field interviews and a quantitative survey in the Walloon Region of Belgium. The main finding of this study is that farmers who have periodic contacts with network bridging organisations that foster cooperation and social learning in the agri-environmental landscapes show a higher commitment to change. This effect is observed both for farmers with high and low concern for biodiversity depletion. Support for network bridging organisations is foreseen under the EU Leader programme and the EU regulation 1306/2013, which could open-up interesting opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of the current payment scheme for agri-environmental services.

Yes: please answer this question: are you signed up to AEM1b, Isolated trees?
12. If you have adopted AEM1b (Isolated trees), did the following factors play a part in your decision to adopt?
13. If you have adopted AEM1b (Isolated trees) Adopting the AEM has brought about changes on your farm 14. If you have not adopted AEM1b (Isolated trees), did the following factors play a part in your decision not to adopt?
The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are sufficiently flexible Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation 24. If you have adopted AEM3b (Grass strips in grasslands), did the following factors play a part in your decision to adopt?
25. If you have adopted AEM3b (Grass strips in grasslands) Adopting the AEM has brought about changes on your farm 26. If you have not adopted AEM3b (Grass strips in grasslands), did the following factors play a part in your decision not to adopt?
The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are sufficiently flexible Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are not flexible enough Signing up to the AEM results in too many inspections on my farm The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM is not appropriate to achieving environmental objectives The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM results in too many inspections on my farm The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM is not appropriate to achieving environmental objectives The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM results in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation 48. If you have adopted AEM4 (Winter cover of the soil between crops), did the following factors play a part in your decision to adopt?
49. If you have adopted AEM4 (Winter cover of the soil between crops) Adopting the AEM has brought about changes on your farm 50. If you have not adopted AEM4 (Winter cover of the soil between crops), did the following factors play a part in your decision not to adopt?
The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are sufficiently flexible Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM is appropriate to achieving environmental objectives The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are sufficiently flexible Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are not flexible enough 56. If you have adopted AEM10 (Agri-environmental action plan), did the following factors play a part in your decision to adopt?
57. If you have adopted AEM10 (Agri-environmental action plan) Adopting the AEM has brought about changes on your farm 58. If you have not adopted AEM10 (Agri-environmental action plan), did the following factors play a part in your decision not to adopt? AEM10: Agri-environmental action plan The AEM subsidy is worth having The AEM corresponds to my way of thinking about agricultural practices The information provided is clear and sufficient for implementation The AEM specifications are sufficiently flexible Signing up to the AEM does not result in too many inspections on my farm The AEM subsidy is not worth having The AEM is not in keeping with my approach to agricultural practices The information provided is not clear and sufficient for implementation Winter cover of the soil between crops Are you member of one of the following associations? (please create several lines if member of more than one association for a category) 64. Please tick the persons who best correspond to the following statements (several responses possible).  67. Please give your view on the following statements by indicating how far you agree with them on a scale of 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).