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What does framing theory add to our understanding of collective decision making in nitrogen management?

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Abstract

Context

Excess use of nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural landscapes is a threat to aquatic ecosystems, with effects manifesting at the scale of watersheds encompassing many farms. Collaborative processes involving farmers may be needed to achieve policies and decisions that are legitimate and sustainable in the long-term. Doing so depends on how arguments, positions and opinions are negotiated among farmers. We tested how framing theory may contribute to understanding such negotiations.

Objectives

The study has two objectives: (1) to evaluate the outcome of a series of experiments using framing methodology for analyzing collective decision making processes in agricultural landscapes, and (2) to discuss the potentials of using framing theory in agricultural landscape and nitrogen planning.

Methods

Collaborative scenario workshops with local stakeholders were organized in six case areas in Denmark. In each of the cases a participatory process was facilitated. The purpose of these meetings was to involve farmers in finding solutions to reduce nitrogen loads to aquatic recipients.

Results

Ten different frames were identified. These explain a majority of the variation among opinions. Analysis show that frames were understood homogeneously by the informants, indicating that frames represent established models of thinking about the agro-environment. We provide a brief outline of the frames identified.

Conclusions

We conclude that framing theory holds the potential to clarify key discussion about formation of opinions and standpoints in discourse and debates about land use and nitrogen management. It is discussed how to further progress along this line of inquiry.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Strategic Research Alliance DNMARK: Danish Nitrogen Mitigation Assessment: Research and Know‐how for a sustainable, low‐Nitrogen food production (2013–2017), www.dNmark.org.

Funding

Funded by The Danish Council for Strategic Research (Ref. 12‐132421)/Innovationsfonden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Morten Graversgaard, Martin Hvarregaard Thorsøe, Chris Kjeldsen, Jørgen E. Olesen & Tommy Dalgaard

  2. Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Andreas Aagaard Christensen, Henrik Vejre, Peter Stubkjær Andersen & Erling Andersen

  3. Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 5, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Steen Brock

  4. Danish Economic Councils, Emil Møllers Gade 41, 8700, Horsens, Denmark

    Line Block Hansen

  5. Danish Agriculture and Food Council, SEGES, Agro Food Park 15, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark

    Kristoffer Piil

  6. Limfjord Catchment Council, Stigsborg Brygge 5, 9400, Nørresundby, Denmark

    Kristoffer Piil

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  1. Morten Graversgaard
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Correspondence to Morten Graversgaard.

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Graversgaard, M., Christensen, A.A., Thorsøe, M.H. et al. What does framing theory add to our understanding of collective decision making in nitrogen management?. Landsc Ecol 38, 4139–4155 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01265-z

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