Improved sustainability in farming is one of the main objectives of the European Union's new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2021–2027. In an exploratory study conducted with German farmers, we examine the adoption-decision process for a comprehensive farm sustainability management standard. The standard is rooted in scientific assessment systems and aims to achieve higher levels of sustainability in all farm production processes. Despite the growing political interest and increasing consumer demand for sustainable food, no such sustainability standard has as yet become established in Germany. Using a Delphi process, we analysed the main hindrances to its wider acceptance. Linking our results to the pre-decision stages of Rogers' innovation-decision model, we find that there is both a lack of any relative advantage of a sustainability standard and a lack of communication of the benefits, such as optimised processes and possible economic improvements. We also analysed both the importance and the optimal configuration of the various elements that make up the standard. Besides the obvious desire for higher product prices, the data basis underlying the sustainability assessment is identified as the most important factor of an optimised standard. Technical user support is another aspect of great concern to the farmers questioned, whereas the threshold values for farming regulation given in the standard appear to be of less significance to them. According to those surveyed, a standard would need to display a high level of compatibility with existing farm management practices, it must not be too complex, and it would need to promote its advantages so as to overcome its lack of trialability. Agricultural sustainability management could play a role in achieving the national emission and biodiversity targets of European member states, but only if they are accepted by a majority of practitioners. However, current German management standards need to undergo further development if they are to meet the needs of practitioners. Our findings can help all member states to structure their agricultural policies and promote the use of farm sustainability management. Further research should aim to improve standards and tools of agricultural sustainability management and render them compatible with EU funding policy.

提高农业的可持续性是欧盟新的 2021-2027 年共同农业政策 (CAP) 的主要目标之一。在与德国农民进行的一项探索性研究中，我们检查了全面农场可持续性管理标准的采用决策过程。该标准植根于科学评估系统，旨在在所有农场生产过程中实现更高水平的可持续性。尽管政治利益不断增长，消费者对可持续食品的需求不断增加，但德国尚未建立这样的可持续性标准。使用 Delphi 过程，我们分析了其更广泛接受的主要障碍。将我们的结果与罗杰斯创新决策模型的决策前阶段联系起来，我们发现，可持续性标准既缺乏任何相对优势，也缺乏对好处的交流，例如优化流程和可能的经济改进。我们还分析了构成标准的各种元素的重要性和最佳配置。除了对更高产品价格的明显渴望之外，可持续性评估背后的数据基础被认为是优化标准的最重要因素。技术用户支持是被质疑的农民非常关心的另一个方面，而标准中给出的农业监管阈值对他们来说意义不大。据受访者称，标准需要与现有农场管理实践高度兼容，不能太复杂，它需要推广其优势，以克服其缺乏可试验性的问题。农业可持续性管理可以在实现欧洲成员国的国家排放和生物多样性目标方面发挥作用，但前提是它们被大多数从业者接受。然而，当前的德国管理标准需要进一步发展才能满足从业者的需求。我们的研究结果可以帮助所有成员国制定农业政策并促进农场可持续性管理的使用。进一步的研究应旨在改进农业可持续性管理的标准和工具，并使它们与欧盟的资助政策兼容。农业可持续性管理可以在实现欧洲成员国的国家排放和生物多样性目标方面发挥作用，但前提是它们被大多数从业者接受。然而，当前的德国管理标准需要进一步发展才能满足从业者的需求。我们的研究结果可以帮助所有成员国制定农业政策并促进农场可持续性管理的使用。进一步的研究应旨在改进农业可持续性管理的标准和工具，并使它们与欧盟的资助政策兼容。农业可持续性管理可以在实现欧洲成员国的国家排放和生物多样性目标方面发挥作用，但前提是它们被大多数从业者接受。然而，当前的德国管理标准需要进一步发展才能满足从业者的需求。我们的研究结果可以帮助所有成员国制定农业政策并促进农场可持续性管理的使用。进一步的研究应旨在改进农业可持续性管理的标准和工具，并使它们与欧盟的资助政策兼容。当前的德国管理标准需要进一步发展才能满足从业者的需求。我们的研究结果可以帮助所有成员国制定农业政策并促进农场可持续性管理的使用。进一步的研究应旨在改进农业可持续性管理的标准和工具，并使它们与欧盟的资助政策兼容。当前的德国管理标准需要进一步发展才能满足从业者的需求。我们的研究结果可以帮助所有成员国制定农业政策并促进农场可持续性管理的使用。进一步的研究应旨在改进农业可持续性管理的标准和工具，并使它们与欧盟的资助政策兼容。