Increasing adoption of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers
In collaboration with SRA & the Queensland CANEGROWERS Organisation
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers (EEFs) are advanced fertilisers with the potential to increase the nutrient uptake and decrease the nutrient loss of a particular crop. This in turn, allows growers to receive an equal or greater yield while applying less fertiliser and nutrients. In 2017, there was limited data in the QLD sugarcane industry which clearly links EEFs to improved productivity and profitability.
The EEF60 project was therefore developed in partnership with CANEGROWERS and Sugar Research Australia (SRA) to gain robust data on the effectiveness of EEFs in well-controlled conditions. Sixty growers throughout all four QLD sugarcane regions have participated in on-farm trials throughout 2018-2021 to compare the performance of EEFs to traditional fertilisers.
Evidn was approached by CANEGROWERS and SRA to understand the psychology underpinning grower adoption of EEFs and develop communication strategies to increase their uptake. Our team developed a comprehensive assessment of grower knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs relating to EEF usage and identified barriers to adoption.
We held focus groups, disseminated grower surveys, and conducted individual interviews to track changes in the underlying psychology, motivators, and barriers to EEF adoption across the length of the project. Evidn conducted one assessment in 2018 prior to the release of project trials, and completed the follow-up assessment in 2020 on conclusion of project trials.
We found that the EEF60 trials had increased growers' technical knowledge of the fertilisers and decreased their perceived barriers to adoption. Our team are now working with SRA and CANEGROWERS to develop a suite of strategies to increase the uptake of EEFs throughout the industry.
