Farmer acceptance of bioeconomy innovations – the key influences
As part of Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2025, Teagasc is highlighting new research that explores how farmers can engage with the development of bioeconomy innovations, such as anaerobic digestion and grass biorefining.
The bioeconomy represents an alternative to finite fossil resources, a solution for climate change, and an opportunity for economic growth, but what do those who are likely to be affected by its development at local level think about it?
A PhD study involving Teagasc, UCD and BiOrbic, investigated this question with farmers and the wider public in Cork and Kerry, with a particular focus on anaerobic digestion and grass biorefining.
As part of her PhD study entitled: ‘Exploring Social Acceptance of the Bioeconomy: A Case Study of the South-West Region of Ireland’, Mina Sadeghzadeh, based at the Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin, examined acceptance of land use practices and infrastructure related to two bioeconomy innovations: Grass Biorefineries (GB) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
The study reveals that both communities and farmers can move through distinct behavioural stages, from willingness (passive acceptance) to intention, and ultimately to active support, and that their perspectives on these innovations can vary.
For grass biorefineries, farmers’ willingness to accept it is driven by how capable they feel in supplying biomass, showing that empowerment is key to participation. For anaerobic digestion, engagement follows a more deliberate process that depends heavily on trust and justice.
Farmers are more likely to commit to supplying biomass when they see AD as transparent, equitable, and aligned with their values. However, unlike the public, for whom procedural justice is most important, distributional justice, the fairness of how benefits and burdens are shared, has a slightly greater effect among farmers. It reflects their more direct relationship with the bioeconomy, where tangible rewards and equitable benefit-sharing determine their participate.
“Communities are more open to bioeconomy innovations like AD when they feel included, informed and respected,” Mina Sadeghzadeh said, adding: “Procedural fairness and meaningful engagement are as important as technical performance in achieving acceptance.
“Our research revealed that for Irish residents in the south-west region, justice matters in terms of acceptance. Still, procedural justice explains a greater portion of their support than does distributional justice, or the fairness of how resources, benefits and risks are distributed.”
According to Professor Maeve Henchion, Teagasc Principal Research Officer and co-supervisor of the PhD study: “Because farmers approach each innovation differently, engagement strategies must be aligned with the behavioural logic unique to each technology.
“Grass biorefineries may benefit from hands-on demonstration and peer learning, while anaerobic digestion adoption depends more on trust-building, fairness, and institutional clarity,” Professor Henchion said.
A new framework for the Irish bioeconomy
Through its ongoing research, Teagasc is able to help develop socially and locally inclusive bioeconomy pathways, ensuring that Ireland’s move toward a bioeconomy is community-engaged. This PhD research presents one of the first integrated frameworks for understanding both public and farmer acceptance of bioeconomy innovations in Ireland. By showing how emotional, moral and institutional factors shape behavioural change, it provides policymakers, planners, and industry with a roadmap for inclusive and socially grounded bioeconomy development.
Professor Eoin O’Neill, UCD and PhD co-supervisor said: “This work demonstrates how science can inform policy and community engagement. Understanding what drives public and farmer acceptance is crucial for ensuring that Ireland’s bioeconomy grows in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable way.”
For further details on the above or to contact the researchers involved, visit here.