K.A.M. Kuipers (Kimberly)

My research focuses on the varieties and differences of perspectives on sustainability in the agricultural sector of farmers and policymakers. Despite the growing number of sustainability assessment tools in agriculture, there is no collective understanding of what it entails to be sustainable or how it should be achieved. This has led to a multitude of approaches influenced by different priorities and interests. The majority of such approaches are primarily based on ecological or economic considerations, often overlooking everyday complexities, pre-constructed assumptions, and differences in points of view, priorities, and interests between stakeholders. Ultimately, this can hamper long-term sustainable development or present a skewed view of the challenges at hand.
This project aims to gain a better understanding of the depth and breadth of perspectives on sustainability of farmers and policymakers in the province of Flevoland, the Netherlands. Qualitative and quantitative strategies, including policy analysis, surveys, interviews, and participant observation, are used to gain an understanding of the varieties of perspectives on and approaches to sustainability in the agricultural sector.