Adoption of Sustainable Livestock Innovations: Evidence from Latin America

This monograph brings together five studies on the adoption of sustainable livestock innovations in Latin America. It examines the factors that drive or constrain adoption in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, evaluates the effectiveness of a program aimed at promoting adoption in Uruguay, and analyzes Uruguayan producers preferences regarding adoption. Its main findings indicate that the determinants of adoption vary by technology and context; land tenure is an important factor; adopting one sustainable livestock technology does not necessarily increase the likelihood of adopting others; and adoption does not guarantee significant impacts on targeted outcomes. It also finds that two common policy interventions, improving access to credit and providing technical extension services, are associated with adoption for certain technologies and producer groups. The publication concludes that one-size-fits-all policies are unlikely to be effective or efficient and highlights the need to tailor support to specific technologies, locations, and types of producers.