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THE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL AND
EXPERIMENTAL AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Moving Beyond Adoption to Sustainable Climate-Smart Agriculture
EXPERIMENTAL BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS:
Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture
At the Center of Behavioral and Experimental Agri-Environmental Research (CBEAR), we are leading scientists engaged in experimental research for sustainable agriculture. A USDA Center of Excellence since 2014, we remain the only producer of behavioral research that applies to agricultural and environmental topics. Our studies specifically target farming communities with the lowest participation rates; while narrowing down which conservation practices work best for these producers. By using insights from our experiments, we work with policymakers and private institutions to make conservation programs more accessible and sustainable for everyone.
OUR MISSION
Advance Climate-Smart Sustainability
In agriculture, sustainability means good stewardship of the natural systems and environmental resources needed to produce abundant, high-quality crops. Among other things, this involves crop rotation and diversity, planting cover crops, no-till systems (or reduced till), integrated pest management, integration between livestock and crops, agroforestry practices and precision farming.
While adoption of these “climate-smart” practices has been on the rise, there is still room for improvement. CBEAR is interested in developing program delivery that targets groups of farmers with relatively low conservation practice adoption, particularly historically underserved producers (HUP). In order to help this type of producer, we must find out what is getting in their way of accessing conservation programs and this starts with examining the application process. Programs are more effective if their design considers the characteristics of the target population, and the associated trade-offs between economic, environmental and social outcomes.
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We use experimental behavioral science to determine which mix of approaches work best to achieve persistent climate-smart habits. One primary area to consider is the pathway for enrollment to federal conservation programs. Our research tests whether various simplifications in the application process can lead more farmers to want to enroll in agri-environmental programs and whether these conservation practices persist over time. Of course, we also want to ensure that these simplified applications do not lead to higher rates of non-compliance with program rules which is a great place to conduct testing.
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At CBEAR, the questions we ask aim to help conservation practitioners, scientists and producers. We identify the best ways to ensure program adoption and, importantly, to better understand what leads to persistent conservation practices.
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Why experimental behavioral science?
How We Do It
OUR SOLUTION-BASED RESEARCH FOCUSES ON:
OUR STRATEGY
Across Rows. Across Sections. Across Aisles.
We coordinate with program administrators and policy makers to incorporate behavioral insights and experimental designs into emerging and existing agri-environmental programs. By plugging directly into these programs, we identify how applications of behavioral science can be used to improve agri-environmental programs.
CBEAR Partners with Field to Market on $70 mil Climate Smart Grant
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The Partnership will research financial mechanisms to encourage farmers to adopt climate-positive agriculture practices.
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Economist David Pannell Joins Our Distinguished Fellows List
David Pannell is an esteemed researcher whose work focuses on water and land conservation economics and environmental policy.
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