The findings highlight a broad range of agricultural-related and interconnected lock-ins which, once understood and addressed, could accelerate sustainability transition.
Introduction
Dairy farmers perceive lock-ins when transitioning to more sustainable production methods. Perceived lock-ins of formal institutional processes, available capital, psychosocial lock-ins and existing infrastructure were perceived as most persistent. These systemic mechanisms are shaped by past decisions and farming style. When aiming to solve lock-ins in farming systems, they should be considered as interconnected elements that form a complex web of interdependencies, limiting farmers’ adaptive capacity. In addition, taking psycho-social lock-ins into account is essential. Only when addressing technical as well as social lock-ins, a locked-in system can truly be unlocked.