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Abstract In the circular economy concept, besides protecting the environment, green policy measures provide essential economic benefits through resource security, economic stability, and the creation of green jobs. This study centres its attention on the labour use aspect of the circular economy and aims to examine the potential for green economy measures to create green jobs in the agriculture sector. As a methodological approach, we combine "top-down" and "bottom-up" analyses of the green economy experience of Slovenia, where agri-environmental measures (AEM) play an essential role in the Slovenian rural development programme (2007–2014), with the highest amount of subsidies per unit of output among the 10 new European Union Member States. The results show that an AEM adoption of green policy measures by very large dairy and field crop farms significantly increases total labour use: while for field crop farms this increase is in hired labour, for dairy farms this increase is in family labour. While hired and family labour perform as substitutes for very large dairy farms, they perform as complements for very large field crop farms. The present study suggests further steps towards identifying the green economy measures that are needed to create green jobs in the agriculture sector for rural youth. Highlights • The potential of green economy measures for job creation on farms is examined. • The analyses are based on top-down and bottom-up approaches. • The Between Effect models are applied to examine labour use change on farms. • Labour use increases are observed for very large farms which adopted green measures. • Hired and family labour perform as complements for very large field crop farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, studies have identified the determining factors for participation in voluntary agri-environmental measures (AEMs) by farmers who support sustainable agricultural production practices. Although the previous implementation of AEMs is an important determinant of sustainable behaviour, attempts to investigate the forces driving this long-term behaviour are scarce. This study aims to provide empirical insights into which determinants of probability of sustainable behaviour are associated with AEM participation by Slovenian farmers. Particular attention is given to the drivers of farm and farmland use characteristics. The data used are taken from the Farm Accountancy Data Network for the 2004–2010 period. Logit regressions for Markov transition probability models and a long-term sustainable participation behaviour model are used to explore the existence of distinct characteristics of AEM participation for different sub-periods. The empirical results confirmed that different drivers are associated with sustainable behaviour across time periods and farm types. Land productivity, capital intensity and farm size have significant effects on the probability that a farmer will consistently participate in the AEM programme for at least 5 year period. These findings suggest that farm-specific characteristics are the primary drivers of sustainable behaviour associated with AEM participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the determinants of farmer participation in agri-environmental measures (AEMs) using the Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) during the 2004–2010 period. Previous papers have not shown a straightforward relationship between farm size and decisions to participate in AEM. Considering explicitly the farm size, the controversial subject of the role of farm size is investigated by conducting logit regression analyses. We examine the influence of farm-specific characteristics on participation in AEMs using three different farm sizes: small, medium, and large. The findings strongly suggest that there are differences between the determinant factors of AEM participation based on farms’ utilised agricultural area, particularly between small and large farms. This conclusion is supported by those variables that describe farm capital per land intensity, off-farm income and type of farming as significant determinants for large farm models but not for small farm models. Furthermore, variables that describe land productivity negatively influence participation in AEMs for large farms, whereas these variables positively influence the participation of small farms. The results highlight the importance of how these previously confirmed factors influencing AEM participation differ according to the three different farm sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of interpersonal communication on the adoption of agri-environmental measures (AEM) by organic farmers in Germany. Methodology: The study used the logit model to predict the probability of adoption behaviour, and Social Network Analysis (SNA) was conducted to analyse the question of whether validating information about organic farming provided by interpersonal information sources is associated with communication frequency. Findings: Our findings demonstrate that being an early adopter of organic farming practices and frequent contact with young and highly educated farmers increases the probability of adoption of other AEM. However, contact frequency in interpersonal networks was found not to be a significant determinant for explaining adoption decisions. Frequently communicating farmers in the network are more likely to attribute higher levels of importance to organic farming information received from formal actors than to information received from informal actors. Practical Implications: If young and highly educated farmers, who can be considered as informal opinion leaders, are approached by the extension services, then an effective diffusion of information on AEM can be expected. To support the AEM adoption, a platform should be provided by state agencies that would enable organic farmers to understand the environmental benefits achieved over the time. Originality/value: This study contributes to the scientific discussion on the role of interpersonal communication on AEM adoption. A new aspect is our consideration of organic farmers adopting additional AEM. Moreover, we highlight organic farmers' validation of the importance of formal and informal information sources on organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]