What drives European farmers' attitude towards water management - a systematic literature approach

Considering challenges related to climate change, projected population growth, and increasing food demand, the long-term use of water in agriculture is becoming a pressing concern. Therefore, effective water resource management by farmers is crucial and warrants extensive scientific investigation. Consequently, the primary objective of this article was to identify pertinent studies addressing farmers' approaches, attitudes, and actions concerning water management and the adoption of water innovations. The review was conducted using the PRISMA method, serving as the foundation for subsequent quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings suggest that water management in agriculture is gaining significance due to increasing exposure to the risk of limited water availability and complement to adapt to changing climate conditions. Previous research has predominantly focused on selected southern regions of Europe. Farmers' attitudes toward water management are primarily influenced by socio-economic and institutional factors. Education emerged as a crucial determinant in encouraging farmers to use water conservation practices.