Drivers of Introducing Innovations in the Field of Sustainable Land use in Slovak Agriculture: Exploring The Role of the EU Common Agricultural Policy

Sustainable land use is increasingly recognised as a core condition for climate resilience, soil protection, and long-term agricultural productivity. The main objective of the study is to analyse and evaluate the significance of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy in supporting the introduction of innovations in agricultural enterprises that contribute to sustainable land use. The research employs a mixed-methods design, combining an exploratory logistic regression model with qualitative analysis grounded in Grounded Theory. Primary data were collected through a nationwide questionnaire survey of Slovak agricultural enterprises. The results show that funding from the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy is the main driver of innovation, leading to the delivery of new solutions in sustainable land use. Successful innovation implementation was also explained by the enterprise's technological maturity, collaborative networks, and a general orientation toward ecological agriculture. Qualitative findings further reveal that Slovak farmers face persistent financial, administrative, and knowledge-related barriers to the implementation of eco-innovation.