About
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What is DStream about?
This project is grounded in the farmer and their practices. The overall objective of DStream is to investigate the role of practices in enabling the emergence of pro-environmental and experimental mindsets amongst Irish dairy farmers. Moreover, DStream aims to assess the potential for creating momentum for self-sustaining pro-environmental behaviour at both an on-farm and landscape level. DStream provides a basis to assess the inner dimensions of the farmer and use this knowledge to influence and inform policy and initiatives in a way that goes beyond adoption rates and environmental results (which often have a temporal disconnect). The vision of DStream is to provide a strong evidence base for action towards an enabling context for a more sustainable production system in Irish dairy.
DStream focuses on dairy due to its high intensity and proportion in Ireland. The research is grounded in the farmer and their practices, aiming to create an enabling context for a more sustainable dairy production system, supported by evidence. The research questions being asked are as follows:
- How do agri-environmental interventions and supports both enable and inhibit environmental experimentation on Irish dairy farms?
- How can/does the design and implementation consider and facilitate experimentation with environmental practices?
- How is on-going momentum and a mindset of emergence and ownership towards pro-environmental practices supported through this design?
Research objectives
Overall Objective:
The DStream project (Dairy Sustainability Through Regenerative Experimentation
and Mindsets) will investigate the role of practices in enabling the emergence of pro-environmental
and experimental mindsets and identities amongst Irish dairy farmers, and in doing so, explore the
potential for creating momentum for self-sustaining pro-environmental behaviour at both an on-farm
and landscape level.
Specific Objectives:
- Profile and categorise the ‘As-Is’ environmental practices taking place on dairy farms and the
supporting institutional mechanisms for the dairy farms. - Investigate the underlying and emergent mindsets for engagement with various environmental
practices on dairy farms. - Investigate the relationship between existing practices and self-sustaining environmental
behaviours, and the mediating role of mindsets and of supporting mechanisms. - Investigate the enablers and inhibitors of environmental experimentation on dairy farms, with a
particular focus on the role of landscape. - Develop and implement a tailored communication plan which will effectively educate on and
promote the progress and findings of the project. - Generate and present recommendations for policy and supporting mechanism/programme design
(including landscape mechanisms) that may be used to influence pro-environmental mindsets that
create momentum for self-sustaining environmental behaviour on dairy farms.
Project Funding
This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which has the statutory function of coordinating and promoting environmental research.
Project Number: 2023-NE-1241
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