Understanding Farmers’ Adoption Intentions for Environmentally Friendly Intermediate Farming: A Typology-Based Analysis of Current Farming Systems in Japan

Reducing agrochemical inputs while maintaining productivity is essential for sustainable agriculture and food security. To bridge the gap between conventional and organic systems and inform evidence-based promotion strategies, this study examines how farmers with different existing farming systems perceive and respond to an intermediate farming method characterized by minimal agrochemical use (≤1/8 of conventional levels) in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. A survey of 120 farmers was classified into organic (OA, 34.2%), reduced-input (RA, 28.3%), and conventional (CA, 37.5%) groups. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were employed to examine group differences and identify predictors of adoption intention. Adoption willingness varied significantly across groups (χ2 = 24.46, p < 0.001): RA farmers showed the highest willingness (88.2%), followed by CA farmers (68.9%), while OA farmers were least willing (34.1%). Logistic regression identified farmer type (OA vs. CA: OR = 0.148, p = 0.001) and adoption conditions including health safety assurance (OR = 3.687, p = 0.026) and higher profitability (OR = 3.897, p = 0.040) as significant predictors. These findings highlight the importance of tailored extension strategies and evidence-based policy support to facilitate adoption across diverse farmer groups.