Laure Kuhfuss

Agricultural/Environmental Economist
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
T: +44 (0)1224 39 5404
Laure Kuhfuss is a researcher in agricultural and environmental economics working in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) research group at the James Hutton Institute. She has a background in agronomy and environmental economics. Prior to joining The James Hutton Institute, she received her PhD in economics from the University of Montpellier 1 (France) in 2013 and carried out a two-year postdoc at the University of St Andrews (Scotland, UK, 2014-2016). Her research investigates farmers’ adoption of sustainable behaviours and the evaluation and design of agri-environmental policies.

General research questions:

  • Motivations and barriers to the adoption of pro-environmental practices by farmers
  • Design of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) schemes and agri-environmental policies
  • Lessons from behavioural sciences to improve agri-environmental policies
  • How to evaluate the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes

This research relies on a variety of methodological tools such as:

  • Experimental economics and discrete choice experiments
  • Surveys (face to face, online)
  • Statistical / econometric analysis: discrete choice modelling, matching estimators

Main ongoing research projects:

  • COMBINE: “Co-designing and implementing best-fit farming practices” (JHI-B3-1), funded by Scottish Government RESAS strategic research programme 2022-2027
  • H2020 FRAMEWORK, “Farmer clusters for Realising Agrobiodiversity Management across Europe” (2020-2025)
  • H2020 FOODLAND, “FOOD and Local, Agricultural, and Nutritional Diversity” (2020-2025)
  • Horizon Europe NemEmerge: “Counteracting the emergence of invasive and virulent plant-parasitic nematodes” (2024-2027)

Journals

Prior to appointment

Technical / contract reports

Conference papers

  • Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Bacigalupo, A.; Massawe, B.; Mishili, F. J.; Chimoita, E. L.; Nakyewa , P.; Setti, M. (2023) What affects smallholder farmers’ willingness to cooperate? Evidence from public good games with different design elements in three African countries, XVII EAAE Congress “Agri-food systems in a changing world: Connecting science and society”, 29 August – 1 September 2023, Rennes, France
  • Piras, S.; Kuhfuss, L.; Nchimbi-Msolla, S.; Mokhtari, N.; Kisakye, J.; Setti, M. (2023) How to promote adoption of sustainable innovations by African smallholders? A randomised controlled trial approach, LIX Convegno SIDEA “Agricoltura, alimentazione e mondo rurale di fronte ai cambiamenti dello scenario globale: politiche e strategie per la sostenibilità e la resilienza”, 21-22 September 2023, Marina di Orosei (Italy)
  • Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2021) How to promote the collective uptake of agri-environmental schemes by farmers? A literature review., Landscape 2021 Conference: Diversity for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, 20-22 September 2021, online presentation.
  • Vinten, A.J.A.; Kuhfuss, L.; Shortall, O.; Ibiyemi, A.; Pohle, I.; Addy, S.; Gabriel, M.; Gunn, I.; McPhail, P.; Corrigan, J. (2018) Water for all: an ecosystem services approach to wetland conservation and flood risk reduction in the Lunan Water, Scotland., International Water Association 3rd Regional IWA Diffuse Pollution Conference, Chiang Mai, Thailand , 19-22 November 2018.
  • Kuhfuss, L.; Préget, R.; Thoyer, S.; de Vries, F.; Hanley, N. (2017) Nudging participation and spatial agglomeration in payment for environmental service schemes., 19th Annual Bioecon Conference, Evidence-Based Environmental Policies and the Optimal Management of Natural Resources, Tilburg University, The Netherlands, 21-22 September 2017.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Barlagne, C.; Kufhuss, L.; Potts, J.; Lagerkvist, C.J. (2021) Consumers’ preferences for coloured fleshed potatoes: a study exploring the benefits of targeted information., EAAE Seminar 175 – The Wind of Change of Sustainability Standards – Sailing Economic, Governance, and Policy Perspectives, Gargnano, Garda Lake, Italy, 13-15 May 2021.
  • Faccioli, M.; Kuhfuss, L.; Czajkowski, M. (2017) Stated preferences for conservation policies under uncertainty., Envecon 2017: Applied Environmental Economics Conference, Royal Society in London, 3 March 2017. Poster.