Farmers’ preferences for enhancing sustainability in arable lands: evidence from a choice experiment in Sicily (Italy)

We used discrete-choice experiments (DCE) to elicit farmers’ preferences among alternative agri-environmental schemes (AES) designed to reduce soil risk of erosion, maintain soil fertility, enhance countryside landscape, and preserve agrobiodiversity in arable lands of Sicily (Italy). Using appropriate models, we also investigated farmers’ preference heterogeneity and spatial correlation. The results demonstrated a general positive and highly heterogeneous attitude in farmers toward the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and suggested the need of modulate AES according to preferences’ heterogeneity respect to sustainable agricultural practices and local contexts.