The study investigates whether improvements in irrigation efficiency lead farmers to develop a sense of ownership over the resulting water savings. Through an experimental approach with Spanish Water User Associations, the Patrick Hoffmann and Sergio Villamayor-Tomas found that farmers often perceive water saved through efficiency gains as their own resource, while this is less the case for naturally supplied water. This psychological ownership can impact water use, potentially counteracting conservation efforts. The findings suggest that policymakers should consider these psychological factors when designing and implementing water conservation strategies to ensure that efficiency improvements translate into actual water savings.

The paper is available online here:

https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/full/10.1142/S2382624X24400022

or contact Dr. Patrick Hoffmann if you want to learn more.