Entrepreneurial identity and behavioural heterogeneity in sustainable agricultural practices adoption in the Philippines
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7515032 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Don van Luijn (0009-0007-4618-7228, Wageningen University & Research, corresponding author), V C Materia (Wageningen University & Research), W A Dolfsma |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 123 |
| Pages | 104065 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Rural Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0743-0167 • E-ISSN: 1873-1392 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104065 |
| OpenAlex | W7133136791 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 83 |
The persistently low adoption rates of Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAP) among smallholder farmers highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of the factors influencing adoption behaviour. While socioeconomic and contextual variables have been widely examined, cognitive and psychological determinants, together with behavioural heterogeneity within farming populations, remain underexplored. Existing typologies rely predominantly on socioeconomic, demographic, or resource-based attributes, whereas the present study derives class distinctions from identity-linked behavioural and normative traits, extending the analytical scope beyond conventional adoption models. Entrepreneurial Identity (EntID) provides a perspective on how self-perceptions, values, and strategic orientations shape identity-driven variation in adoption behaviour, building on prior research that documents the influence of non-cognitive skills, values, and environmental dispositions on sustainability decisions. Analyse behavioural heterogeneity by examining how EntID, a multidimensional construct comprising cognitive traits of Entrepreneurial Orientation (innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking) and Collective Environmental Attitudes (CEA), interacts with contextual factors to explain variation in latent class membership based on SAP adoption patterns. Survey data (N = 2541) from the Philippines were analysed using a two-step approach. First, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was employed to identify farmer subgroups based on SAP adoption patterns. Second, multinomial logistic regression assessed how EntID and contextual factors influence group membership, capturing variations in adoption behaviour. s: Latent classes identified from SAP adoption patterns exhibit distinct EntID configurations that shape variation in adoption behaviour. A configuration characterised by strong CEA and low risk-taking (Traditionalist) limits adoption, reflecting stability and reliance on established methods in isolated and resource-constrained areas. High risk-taking combined with weak CEA (Productivist) is linked to selective SAP adoption driven by productivity and efficiency goals, supported by credit access and market networks and accompanied by limited engagement with advisory structures. A configuration shaped by strong CEA but low innovativeness and proactiveness (Environmentalist) represents a smaller group and exhibits the highest SAP adoption, often through integrated mixed systems, with financial constraints evident in female-headed households and in climate-vulnerable areas. These patterns indicate that identity-linked behavioural and normative orientations give rise to differentiated adoption profiles, consistent with established psychological determinants, and extend explanatory value beyond socioeconomic and contextual variables. This study addresses the limited theoretical integration of EntID in agricultural research by examining its association with behavioural heterogeneity in SAP adoption. It advances a behavioural lens that complements existing adoption models by highlighting the role of identity-linked behavioural and normative orientations in shaping adoption patterns. These insights contribute to ongoing efforts to refine theoretical frameworks and inform targeted policy interventions across diverse agricultural settings. • Entrepreneurial identity (EntID) reveals behavioural heterogeneity in SAP adoption. • EntID traits significantly influence farmer class membership probabilities. • Latent class analysis identifies unobserved classes based on SAP adoption. • Distinct EntID configurations predict limited, selective, or broad SAP adoption patterns. • EntID addresses the limited integration of identity constructs in SAP adoption research
Agriculture · Construct (python library · Entrepreneurship · Identity (music · Latent class model · Multinomial logistic regression · Normative · Survey data collection · Sustainability · Variation (astronomy · Agricultural Development and Management · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Organic Food and Agriculture
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |