Farmers’ social networks and regional spillover effects in agricultural climate change mitigation

Abstract Climate change poses a severe threat to global agricultural production and rural livelihoods, since agriculture itself is significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it can also play an important role in climate mitigation. This article investigates how farmers’ social networks influence the adoption on-farm mitigation strategies. More precisely, we use network autocorrelation model explore relationship between farmer’s own behavior knowledge his fellow farmers. The analysis based on regional case study Switzerland uses data obtained from personal interviews combined with survey census 50 Half them are members local collective action initiative for mitigation, while others do not participate initiative. We find that, average, farmers larger adopt more measures, furthermore, linked level within networks. Indeed, likelihood that non-members will measures increases if they closely associated action, suggesting spillover effect. It follows strengthening exchange among supporting initiatives potentially contribute diffusion practices.