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This case study analyzes the sensitivity of sustainability classifications for rural credit in Brazil, comparing five different taxonomies and initiatives applied to data from the BCB's SICOR system between July 2015 and June 2023.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and nonindustrial forest managers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the adoption dynamics of three agricultural technologies in Brazil between 2006 and 2017: no-till farming (Plantio Direto), tractors, and fertilizers. Using data from the 2017 Agricultural Census, the study identifies three distinct spatial patterns of adoption, suggesting that the drivers and environmental consequences of agricultural intensification vary by technology.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) details the role of the U.S. Farm Bill in promoting on-farm conservation practices. It examines specific conservation tools—such as cover crops, no-till operations, and intercropping—and outlines the funding and objectives of the 2014 Farm Bill's Conservation Title (Title II), including its primary programs: EQIP, ACEP, CRP, and CSP.

This executive summary analyzes the adoption of the Direct Planting System (DPS), a no-till farming method in Brazil. The study finds that social learning—farmers learning from peers—is a primary driver of adoption, but this process is hindered by soil dissimilarity within municipalities. The authors argue that public policy should focus on disseminating information and providing temporary training in areas with high soil similarity to trigger social learning mechanisms.

This research paper examines the diffusion of the Direct Planting System (DPS) in Brazil, a high-productivity agricultural technique that reduces soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions. The authors argue that while DPS offers higher revenues and lower costs without significant upfront financial barriers, its adoption is hindered by the need for site-specific adaptation. Using data from the 2006 Brazilian agricultural census and soil maps, the study demonstrates that geographic soil heterogeneity acts as a barrier to social learning, reducing adoption rates most significantly at intermediate levels of technology penetration.

This research paper examines how agricultural producers and organizations in the Coaldale and Foremost regions of Southern Alberta respond to extreme weather events and other systemic shocks. Through 40 semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2007 and February 2008, the study identifies common weather stressors—specifically the 2001 drought, 2002 flooding, and 2007 extreme heat—and evaluates the effectiveness of short-term coping mechanisms and long-term adaptation strategies, such as no-till farming and irrigation efficiency.