TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose This paper aims to examine impediments to the adoption of sustainable water-efficient technological innovation in agriculture. Farming is the largest water consumer and food production expansion in response to global population growth, combined with increasing droughts from climate change, threatens water and food insecurity for many countries. Yet, climate smart agriculture (CSA) innovation adoption has been slow, and in this regard, governments and the agricultural sector are not fulfilling their social responsibility and sustainability obligations.Design/methodology/approach Barriers to water-efficient drip irrigation (DI) adoption in Australia were investigated via 46 depth interviews with agricultural stakeholders and a survey of 148 farmers.Findings While DI water efficiency is recognised, this is not the key determinant of farmers’ irrigation method selection. Complex interrelationships between internal and external barriers impede DI adoption are identified. These include costs, satisfaction with alternative irrigation methods, farmer characteristics that determine the suitability of the innovation and the extent it is incremental or radical, plus various multidimensional risks. Government support of alternative, less water-efficient irrigation methods is also a critical barrier.Originality/value A conceptual framework for understanding barriers to sustainability oriented innovation adoption is presented. Its insights should be applicable to researchers and practitioners concerned with understanding and improving the adoption of socially responsible and sustainable innovation in a wide range of contexts. Recommendations for overcoming such adoption barriers are discussed in relation to the research focus of water-efficient agriculture and encouraging uptake of DI.
VL  - 15
IS  - 6
SN  - 1747-1117
DO  - 10.1108/SRJ-07-2018-0181
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-07-2018-0181
AU  - Greenland Steven
AU  - Levin Elizabeth
AU  - Dalrymple John F.
AU  - O’Mahony Barry
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - Sustainable innovation adoption barriers: water sustainability, food production and drip irrigation in Australia
T2  - Social Responsibility Journal
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 727
EP  - 741
Y2  - 2024/04/26
ER  -