Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: CAREN QUEIROZ SOUZA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : CAREN QUEIROZ SOUZA
DATE: 05/07/2022
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Virtual
TITLE:

Why plant flowers? Exploring the psychological factors that motivate fruit growers to take up a key pro-pollinator behaviour

KEY WORDS:

Ecological intensification; Theory of Planned Behaviour; Agriculture

PAGES: 31
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUBÁREA: Ecologia Aplicada
SUMMARY:

1. Agricultural expansion and intensification are the main drivers of pollinator decline. To reverse the negative effects of agriculture on pollinators, key stakeholders must be engaged in pro-pollinator conservation actions. Although farmers are recognized as key stakeholders in pollinator conservation, psychological research about what determines their pro-pollinator actions is lacking.
2. We interviewed 89 farmers of pollinator-dependent fruit crops across the UK, with the majority of interviews carried out in-person. A combination of closed and open-questions were used to analyse farmer perceptions of the importance of pollinators, and the crop yield and quality outcomes they deliver. We used Likert-scale statements to measure psychological factors based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and tested the determinants of the intention to plant flowers as nectar and pollen sources for pollinating insects.
3. We found that farmers who perceived a high importance of pollinators also perceived high dependence, with more variation found in relation to perceived quality. Compared to values of crop pollinator dependence reported in the literature,  farmers perceptions of their crop’s pollinator dependence were the same or lower for apple farmers, and the same or greater, for blackcurrant farmers.
4. We found that behaviour and control beliefs played a more positive role than normative beliefs in farmer motivations for planting flowers as nectar and pollen sources. In accordance with this result, direct attitudes and direct perceived behaviour control were the major determinants of apple and blackcurrant farmers’ intentions to perform the behaviour.
5. Recommendations, as example, outreach activities and give training or guidance  for practical action are proposed, in order to encourage the uptake of pro-pollinator action among UK fruit farmers. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interno - 1090422 - CHARBEL NINO EL HANI
Interno - 3062840 - BRUNO VILELA DE MORAES E SILVA