Patrick Hoffmann, awarded for the best scientific communication among young researchers
Patrick Hoffmann, researcher at ICTA-UAB, has received the Prize for Best Research Communication among Young Researchers at the XV Congress of the Spanish Association of Agricultural Economics (AEEA).
The award recognizes Hoffmann’s presentation of the study “Beyond property rights in irrigation systems: An exploration of psychological ownership and farmers’ perceptions of water savings.” The research was as part of the RECOUNT project, led by Sergio Villamayor-Tomás, principal investigator at ICTA-UAB and second author of the study.
The study explores how Spanish farmers perceive water savings resulting from irrigation modernization. By applying the concept of psychological ownership, it seeks to better understand how farmers form beliefs and preferences regarding the use and distribution of saved water.
Little is currently known about the behavioral dimensions of irrigation rebound effects, situations where efficiency gains lead to increased overall use. Hoffmann’s work therefore represents a pioneering contribution to evaluating the potential for more sustainable and ecological water management practices in agriculture.
The study will soon be submitted for publication and shared with the research community.