1. Social norms and organic food adoption: A meta-regression analysis (co-author: P. Nguyen-Van)
Organic food is a promising solution for the food safety and well-being of the environment, plants, animals, and humans. The increase in the choice of organic food has been well observed, yet the rate of increase is still modest. Our study applies the meta-regression analysis on the impact of social norms on organic food adoption to draw a strong and consistent conclusion on the role of social influences as an incentive for consuming organic food. The data is collected from all available papers on the relationship between social influence and organic food. We combine 41 papers from different journals and have 122 observations. Our analysis supports the positive relationship between social norms and organic food adoption. We find out that differences in analysis designs, sampling methodology, and journal characteristics statistically explain the heterogeneity in interested estimates between 41 papers.
2. Farmers' preferences toward organic certification scheme: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Northern Vietnam (co-authors: K. Boun My, P. Nguyen-Van, T.K.C Pham, A. Stenger, T. Tiet, Nguyen T. To)
This study uses a quantitative approach based on a discrete choice experiment with 586 farmers in Northern Vietnam to measure how representative market and non-market factors could influence their preferences for participating in organic certification schemes. Our results suggest that a sales contract with flexible or guaranteed prices is a significant incentive to explain their willingness to pay higher production costs to be involved in organic certification schemes. Furthermore, providing farmers with training and technical support is also essential to motivate farmers toward organic agriculture. Finally, neighborhood cooperatives and formal leaders' participation in organic farming could encourage farmers to convert to organic agriculture.
3. Cooperation in organic agriculture adoption: A theoretical model
Our investigation aims to determine if leadership impacts farmers' decisions to embrace organic agriculture. According to our model, leaders who have better information than farmers and are willing to share it can help farmers make better decisions. Nash's bargaining model is introduced for a negotiation between two parties.
4. Nash-bargaining model in organic agriculture's adoption: Lab-in-field experiment in Northern Vietnam (coauthors: K. Boun My, P. Nguyen-Van, A. Stenger, Nguyen T. To)
This research is centered on production risk, which is the uncertainty in productivity that affects farmers' incomes. Without experience in organic farming, there is a higher risk. By distributing information on organic agriculture, farmers' knowledge and expertise are strengthened, making the transition to new methodologies easier. Randomized controlled experiments indicate that information diffusion positively influences farmers' decision-making, as evidenced by increased adoption rates.