Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

Multifunctional perennial cropping systems (MPCs) integrate various fruit, nut, timber, and bioenergy crops into the agricultural landscape to generate high-value products on marginal lands. These systems are rapidly gaining interest in Central IL for their unique ability to combine the ecosystem services of conservation land with the financial benefits of production ground onto land that would otherwise be underutilized. Previous studies revealed that agricultural landowners lack adequate information to make informed decisions regarding adoption of MPCs, but expressed interest in adopting them. This research aimed to understand and improve design the design preferences, information needs, and adoption barriers and motivators of 15 pioneering landowners within Central Illinois. Researchers constructed three designs for each participant based on a set normative scenarios and feedback from agroecologists, foresters, and the participants themselves. The three scenarios were classified as (1) Fruit and Nut Production, (2) Conservation, and (3) Cultural. Participants received realistic design visualizations as well as detailed information on system management, environmental impacts, economics, and marketability of MPCs. Two semi-structured interviews were used to understand participants’ design preferences, adoption behaviors, and decision-making throughout the study process. Landowners expressed interest in these novel approaches to agricultural design, especially the integration of edible products into the rural landscape. During ex-ante interviews, fruit and nut production was revealed to be the preferred design scenario. The strongest motivators for MPCs adoption were the potential for profit, systematic design, increased species diversity, improved environmental services, and the divergence from conventional cropping. However, these motivators were coupled with an expressed lack of practical application. The findings demonstrated that a lack of reliable economic, market, and management information inhibits adoption potential of MPCs. Farmer preferences and needs identified in this study will be used to help improve decision-making tools, system designs, and future strategies for facilitating the adoption of MPCs.