Farm transformation in the context of climate change: Beyond the incremental-transformational divide

Effectively supporting farm transformation in the face of climate change requires improved understanding of the processes involved in the practices of farm transformation or farm system redesign. This paper presents a case study of farm transformations in the dairy sector in Australia. We interviewed twenty-three dairy farmers (from nineteen farms) and nineteen service providers in two regions about their decisions to move from a grazing-based to more intensified feeding systems including permanently housed production systems. These farm system transformations are highly contentious; however, we use these transformations as an explanatory case from which to develop theory about what the practices of transformation entail. Located in the socio-ecological resilience literature and applying a conceptual framework that integrates social practice theory and the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions, we explore the practices involved in transformational processes and what accelerates or stalls them. We found that transformation is a phased process with each phase having different features and challenges. ‘Starting’ processes were catalysed by water resource policy, extreme weather events, milk market conditions or farm succession and other workforce changes. These conditions also influenced whether changes, having been explored, were put on hold, terminated, revised or put in motion. ‘Redesigning the farm system’ involved reshaping an established network or system of dairy farming practices, while ‘Sustaining the transformation’ was influenced by what was relevant and possible within the regional context. While a dairy farming system that has been transformed retains similar practices such as cow care and feeding, the practice elements and links to other practices outside dairying, including the key actors and sociocultural conditions, change significantly. Our findings contribute to an improved conceptualisation of the transformative process in farming. Firstly, by showing that processes commonly defined as incremental adaptation are not separate or lesser to transformative processes but integral to transformation. Secondly, that understanding change through the lens of practice within a multi-level perspective allows policy makers to better anticipate farm changes and their consequences. • Farm transformation was tightly coupled with market, policy, climatic and social changes. • Phases in farm transformation involved de-linking, and forming new links, between farm practice elements. • ‘Junctures’ were critical times and places where change could accelerate, stall or stagnate. • Changes commonly defined as incremental, were essential to transformation. • Anticipating farm transformation requires a focus on practices, rather than attitudes.