Towards an improved understanding of farmersʹ behaviour: The integrative agent-centred (IAC) framework

An effective approach to research on farmersʹ behaviour is based on: i) an explicit and well-motivated behavioural theory; ii) an integrative approach; and iii) understanding feedback processes and dynamics. While current approaches may effectively tackle some of them, they often fail to combine them together. per presents the integrative agent-centred (IAC) framework, which aims at filling this gap. It functions in accordance with these three pillars and provides a conceptual structure to understand farmersʹ behaviour in agricultural systems. C framework is agent-centred and supports the understanding of farmersʹ behavior consistently with the perspective of agricultural systems as complex social–ecological systems. It combines different behavioural drivers, bridges between micro and macro levels, and depicts a potentially varied model of human agency. e of the framework in practice is illustrated through two studies on pesticide use among smallholders in Colombia. amples show how the framework can be implemented to derive policy implications to foster a transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices. per finally suggests that the framework can support different research designs for the study of agentsʹ behaviour in agricultural and social–ecological systems.