Felipe Aguiar Noury

Project title: Exploring farmers’ adoption of greenhouse gas mitigation measures that reduce chemical fertilizer application

Overview: Felipe is an economist specializing in the adoption of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures to combat climate change. His PhD is motivated by the urgency to reduce chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, which generates nitrous oxide emissions, degrades soils, and can contaminate water sources. To this end, Felipe explores the transition from chemical N fertilizers to the adoption of grass-clover and multi-species swards, two key GHG mitigation measures that can naturally fix atmospheric N into soils. His PhD first identifies what drives fertilizer application, then explores key factors influencing adoption decisions for grass-clover and multi-species swards, and lastly analyses how information provision can improve farmers’ adoption beliefs. To this end, he applies a wide range of methodologies, including surveys (one featuring a randomized economic experiment), focus group discussions, and panel data modelling. His findings have strong policy implications, as they contribute to achieving Europe’s Farm to Fork strategy and Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.

Before joining Teagasc as a Walsh Scholar, Felipe received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (Ecuador), and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Grenoble Alpes University (France). In previous research, he conducted a laboratory economic experiment to test Laffer’s theory.

Programme area: Rural Economy & Development Programme

Supervisors: Cathal Buckley and Stephen Hynes

Location: Teagasc Athenry

Funding Source: Teagasc