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Applying a cultural multilevel selection framework to the adoption of sustainable management practices in California viticulture.

ABSTRACT: In light of the ongoing environmental impacts of agriculture, understanding farmer adoption of sustainable management practices (SMPs) is an important priority. Relatively little work in agricultural adoption has explicitly examined the multilevel dynamics of adoption decision-making. Yet because many SMPs involve cooperative dilemmas-they are individually costly but provide group benefits-understanding the dynamics of both individual and group level behavioral change is critical. In this paper, we argue that cultural evolutionary theory is well suited to examining the emergence and spread of cooperative SMPs, and we illustrate this claim by applying a cultural multilevel selection (CMLS) framework to the adoption of SMPs on the part of winegrape growers in California, USA. Using survey data from over 800 winegrape growers in 3 regions, we estimate the individual-level costs and group-level benefits of 44 different SMPs. We then relate this to variation in their adoption within and between winegrape growing regions to characterize the scope for cultural group selection of the various practices. We also identify a number of mechanisms that might plausibly explain the observed patterns of variation, including various forms of cultural group selection. We highlight the added value of this perspective with respect to the established approaches and outline the data requirements for researchers to conduct similar studies in other settings. Our results underscore the potential for a cultural evolutionary perspective to shed light on the multiscale mechanisms driving adoption of SMPs and, more generally, the promise of cultural evolutionary approaches to supplement existing analytical toolkits in sustainability science.

SUBMITTER: Hillis V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6086253 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Applying a cultural multilevel selection framework to the adoption of sustainable management practices in California viticulture.

Hillis Vicken V Bell Adrian A Brandt Jodi J Brooks Jeremy S JS

Sustainability science 20171201 1

In light of the ongoing environmental impacts of agriculture, understanding farmer adoption of sustainable management practices (SMPs) is an important priority. Relatively little work in agricultural adoption has explicitly examined the multilevel dynamics of adoption decision-making. Yet because many SMPs involve cooperative dilemmas-they are individually costly but provide group benefits-understanding the dynamics of both individual and group level behavioral change is critical. In this paper, ...[more]

PMID: 30147771

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Project description:BackgroundAn urgent transition to more sustainable diets is necessary for the improvement of human and planetary health. One way to achieve this is for sustainable practices to become mainstream. We estimated the potential health impact of wider adoption of dietary practices deemed by consumers, researchers and stakeholders in Sweden to be niche, sustainable and with the potential to be scaled up.MethodsA life table method was used to estimate the impact - changes in years of life lost (YLL) - over periods of 20 and 30 years in the Swedish population had the practices been adopted in 2010-11, when the last national adult dietary survey was conducted. The practices modelled were reducing red and processed meat (by 25, 50 and 100%), and assuming, for each stage, replacement by an equal weight of poultry/fish and vegetables +/- legumes; reducing milk intake (by 25, 50 and 100%); and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake (by 25, 50 and 100%). Using population data together with data on cause-specific mortality and relative risks for diet-disease outcomes, impacts were estimated for each scenario separately and in combination, for the outcomes ischaemic heart disease (IHD), ischaemic stroke, diabetes type 2 and colorectal cancer.ResultsFor a "moderate" combination of scenarios (changes at the 50% level), reductions of 513,200 YLL (lower-upper uncertainty estimate 59,400-797,900) could have been achieved over 20 years and 1,148,500 YLL (135,900-1,786,600) over 30 years. The majority (over 90%) of YLLs prevented were related to IHD, and the majority were in men. The singular practice that had the most impact was reducing the intake of red and processed meat and replacing it with a mixture of vegetables and legumes. Reducing milk intake resulted in an increase in YLL, but this was compensated for by other scenarios.ConclusionIf these practices were more widely adopted, they would be expected to lead to improvements in public health in Sweden. Over the long term, this would translate to many premature deaths postponed or prevented from a number of chronic diseases, to the benefit of individuals, society, the climate and the economy.

Project description:PurposePrevious surveys of anesthesiologists showed that despite a strong interest in implementing environmentally sustainable anesthetic practices, less than a third do so. Qualitative understanding of the capability, opportunity, and motivational factors that influence "green" behavior will inform the design of effective interventions to promote environmentally sustainable practices in the operating room (OR).MethodsWe conducted 23 semistructured interviews with anesthesiologists, with data saturation achieved. Applying the Behavior Change Wheel, interview questions addressed "capability," "opportunity," and "motivation" determinants of behavior.ResultsPreference for sevoflurane and syringe reuse were most commonly cited as existing environmentally sustainable anesthetic practices. Several participants reported lack of knowledge and feedback as impediments to sustainable anesthetic practices. Reported physical barriers included inadequate recycling facilities and abundance of supplies. Interviewees also discussed the importance of habitual behavior in improving skill sets and reducing cognitive load required to perform environmentally sustainable practices. General awareness of environmental issues and aggregation of marginal gains were reasons for environmentally sustainable measures in the OR. Organizational practice and culture played a significant role in the propagation of sustainable anesthetic practices, with senior staff often carrying a greater influence. While the majority preferred a top-down approach to effect change, others favored the use of incentives.ConclusionThis study provides insight into the factors that influence the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices in the OR. Measures to promote these practices include education and training, feedback on efforts, engagement of senior anesthetists as role models and for change management, environmental restructuring, and policy designs that balance a top-down vs bottom-up approach to influencing change.

Project description:BACKGROUND:There are various complex reasons that influence sustainable adoption of innovations in health care systems. Low adoption can be caused by a lack of support from one or more stakeholders because their needs and expectations are not always considered or aligned. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to identify stakeholders' perceptions of barriers and facilitators toward the sustainable adoption of digital health innovations. METHODS:A stakeholder workshop was attended by 12 participants with a range of backgrounds on August 25, 2017, including people representing the views from patients, carers, local hospitals, pharmacy retailers, health insurers, health services researchers, engineers, and technology and pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland. On the basis of adoption of innovation frameworks, we asked participants to interview each other about 3 factors influencing the adoption of digitally delivered health interventions: (1) Facilitators and barriers in the external system, (2) Needs and expectations of stakeholders, and (3) Safety, quality, and usability of innovations. The worksheets and videos generated from the workshop were qualitatively analyzed and summarized. RESULTS:Facilitators for adoption mentioned were high levels of income and education, and digital health is a high priority to stakeholders. Main common interests of different stakeholders were patient satisfaction and job protection. Health care spending was a misaligned interest: although some stakeholders were keen on spending more to obtain or provide the highest quality of care, others were focused on reducing health care spending to provide cost-effective services. Switzerland's diversity and complexity, in terms of its organization with 26 cantons (administrative divisions), were barriers as these made it harder to ensure interoperability of interventions. A culture of innovation was considered a push factor, but adoption was inhibited by persistent paper-based systems, a fear of change, and unwillingness to share data. The sustainability of interventions can be promoted by making them patient-centered, meaning that patients should be involved throughout their development. CONCLUSIONS:Promoting sustainable adoption of digital health remains challenging despite various push factors being in place. Barriers related to fragmentation, patient-centeredness, data security, privacy, trust, and job security need to be addressed. A strength is that people from a wide range of backgrounds attended the workshop. A limitation is that the findings are focused on the macro level. In-depth case studies of specific issues need to be conducted in different settings.

Dataset Information

Applying a cultural multilevel selection framework to the adoption of sustainable management practices in California viticulture.

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Applying a cultural multilevel selection framework to the adoption of sustainable management practices in California viticulture.

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