Risk and uncertainty of plastic mulch adoption in raspberry production systems

Abstract Agriculture plays a central role in providing food security and essential goods globally. Producers must consider manage risk to ensure that the production system its associated individuals are capable of enduring unexpected disruptive events. Analyzing different types accompanying uncertainties growers experience can be better reflect understand realities their circumstances, but these concepts not always accounted for adoption process. Drawing on importance uncertainty, this study aims assess involved decision-making process processed raspberry industry, where plastic mulch is new technique. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants use, research, outreach, manufacturing, distribution mulch, specifically polyethylene (PE) soil-biodegradable (BDM). Findings indicate present various forms including production, price, hidden risks, price risks being most significant all participants. When accounting overall risk, PE was considered riskier industry representatives less risky research outreach specialists. BDM due about durability, degradability, unknown impacts environment if fragments do degrade readily. The application and/or beneficial systems will require time additional effort disseminate information wider agricultural audience.