Why is the grassland assessment an underutilized technology in Patagonia? An approach based on professionals’ perceptions

Purpose: This study examines the factors that limit the use of grassland assessment methods in Argentine Patagonia and identifies strategies to strengthen context-specific management in arid and semi-arid pastoral systems. Understanding these factors is fundamental to improving knowledge sharing and decision-making within agricultural education and extension frameworks.Design/methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 professionals experienced in grassland assessment. Q methodology was used to capture convergent and divergent viewpoints, and factor analysis identified distinct perspectives on the use and limitation of these tools.Findings: Three perspectives emerged – Certification-Minded Pragmatists, Optimists with an Integral and Economic Vision, and Skeptics of Grassland Assessments – explaining 52% of variance. The results indicate that constraints to adoption are driven primarily by institutional fragmentation, limited coordination, and weak integration of local knowledge, and only secondarily by technical limitations. While the value of assessment tools is widely recognized, their implementation remains contested across contexts and stakeholder groups.Practical implications: Improving the adoption of assessment tools requires stronger institutional coordination, participatory processes, and better alignment with local socio-ecological conditions. These findings provide guidance for policymakers and practitioners working in Patagonia and comparable arid regions.Theoretical implications: This study contributes to understanding how divergent professional perspectives shape the translation of technical tools into practice, emphasizing the role of institutional and governance dynamics in natural resource management.Originality/value: This appears to be among the first studies to systematically examine professional perspectives on grassland assessment in Argentine Patagonia using Q methodology. By linking perceptions to institutional contexts, it provides empirical evidence to support more context-sensitive and collaborative approaches to grassland management in arid systems.