A transition towards a circular food system whereby the agricultural food chain changes from a linear production chain to a more circular system with minimal unnecessary losses could be the answer to a range of global challenges, such as climate change, diminished water quality and biodiversity, and food insecurity. This paper focuses on behavioural factors and external conditions that influence the decisions of Dutch farmers in the transition towards circular agriculture (CA). This study consists of a literature review, 13 semi-structured, qualitative, in-depth interviews with farmers who contributed to CA and a survey of 429 farmers representing a range of farm types and sectors. Structural Equation Modelling showed that attitude and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are significant predictors of the intention to take measures that contribute to CA, behavioural beliefs, perceived risk and uncertainty, and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are all significant predictors of attitude; and intention, perceived behavioural control and subjective knowledge are significant predictors of the relative number of farmers that contribute to CA. Univariate analyses showed that farmers who took more measures that contribute to CA were motivated more by social and environmental values, while farmers who took fewer measures that contribute to CA were motivated more by economic values. In the in-depth interviews, knowledge, resistance from the environment and unsuitable legislation were the barriers mentioned most often. These insights may prove helpful for policymakers and other advisors who influence farmers’ decision making regarding CA. Some examples of what these insights can be used for include: persuasive communication aimed at influencing motivations, beliefs and attitudes; framing directed towards motivating pro-environmental and social values to increase intrinsic motivation; economic incentives to increase extrinsic motivation; providing information for decreasing farmers’ perception of risk and uncertainty, provided that how information is offered is adapted to individual situations. Social pressure may not be helpful in this stage of the transition as there is still a lot of resistance to CA among farmers following a linear approach.

向循环粮食系统过渡，即农业食物链从线性生产链转变为更加循环的系统，将不必要的损失降至最低，这可能是应对气候变化、水质下降和生物多样性等一系列全球挑战的答案，以及粮食不安全。本文重点关注影响荷兰农民向循环农业 (CA) 过渡的决策的行为因素和外部条件。本研究包括文献回顾、对参与 CA 的农民进行的 13 次半结构化、定性、深入访谈，以及对代表一系列农场类型和部门的 429 名农民的调查。结构方程模型表明，态度和内在和外在动机是采取措施的意图的重要预测因素，这些措施有助于CA、行为信念、感知风险和不确定性，内在和外在动机都是态度的重要预测因素；意图、感知行为控制和主观知识是影响 CA 的农民相对数量的重要预测因素。单变量分析表明，采取更多措施促进 CA 的农民更多地受到社会和环境价值观的激励，而采取较少措施促进 CA 的农民更多地受到经济价值的激励。在深度访谈中，知识、环境阻力和不合适的立法是最常提到的障碍。这些见解可能对影响农民关于 CA 决策的决策者和其他顾问很有帮助。这些见解可用于的一些示例包括： 旨在影响动机、信念和态度的有说服力的沟通；旨在激发亲环境和社会价值观的框架，以增加内在动力；增加外在动机的经济激励；提供信息以减少农民对风险和不确定性的感知，前提是提供信息的方式要适应个人情况。在这个过渡阶段，社会压力可能无济于事，因为采用线性方法的农民仍然对 CA 有很多阻力。这些见解可用于的一些示例包括： 旨在影响动机、信念和态度的有说服力的沟通；旨在激发亲环境和社会价值观的框架，以增加内在动力；增加外在动机的经济激励；提供信息以减少农民对风险和不确定性的感知，前提是提供信息的方式要适应个人情况。在这个过渡阶段，社会压力可能无济于事，因为采用线性方法的农民仍然对 CA 有很多阻力。这些见解可用于的一些示例包括： 旨在影响动机、信念和态度的有说服力的沟通；旨在激发亲环境和社会价值观的框架，以增加内在动力；增加外在动机的经济激励；提供信息以减少农民对风险和不确定性的感知，前提是提供信息的方式要适应个人情况。在这个过渡阶段，社会压力可能无济于事，因为采用线性方法的农民仍然对 CA 有很多阻力。增加外在动机的经济激励；提供信息以减少农民对风险和不确定性的感知，前提是提供信息的方式要适应个人情况。在这个过渡阶段，社会压力可能无济于事，因为采用线性方法的农民仍然对 CA 有很多阻力。增加外在动机的经济激励；提供信息以减少农民对风险和不确定性的感知，前提是提供信息的方式要适应个人情况。在这个过渡阶段，社会压力可能无济于事，因为采用线性方法的农民仍然对 CA 有很多阻力。