Farmers’ adoption of environmental soil management practices across four European regions: willingness to accept analysis

Abstract This study investigates farmers’ willingness to accept (WTA) compensation for adopting soil-friendly management practices across four European countries (Finland, Estonia, Belgium, and Germany). The objective is to understand how socio-demographic factors shape compensation expectations and to provide guidance for designing effective incentive schemes. Using a triple-hurdle model, we estimate farmers’ decisions in three stages: intention to adopt, willingness to adopt if compensated, and the compensation amount required. Results show that compensation schemes should account for heterogeneity in farmers’ expectations. Gender, age, and educational level influence WTA differently across countries: For example, younger farmers in Finland demand higher compensation, whereas in Estonia, Belgium, and Germany, they expect lower compensation. Higher education is generally associated with lower WTA in Estonia, Belgium, and Germany, suggesting that more educated farmers may require smaller financial incentives. Overall, approximately half of the farmers who would not adopt soil management practices without support would do so if adequately compensated, highlighting the importance of well-designed financial incentives to promote sustainable farming.