www.RuralPracticeChange.org

Department ofPrimary Industries

The many meanings of adoption

Roger Wilkinson

Complexities of adoption

• Gradual, partial or stepwise adoption

• Trial or gradual adoption?

• Niche adoption or full integration

• Adaptation

• Disadoption

• Separate decision about use of a practice for each paddock in each season

Partial adoption

• Partial area of farm

• Some components of a technology “package”

• Niche rather than integration

Gradual adoption

• Increasing area

• Increasing intensity

• Trial

• Stepwise adoption of components of a technology package

• Niche to integration

Complexities of adoption

• Gradual, partial or stepwise adoption• Trial or gradual adoption? Hard to tell• Niche adoption or full integration• Adaptation makes adoption easier• Disadoption at any point• Separate decision about use of a practice

for each paddock in each season• Focus on “use” rather than “adoption”