German farmers’ perceptions of soybean cultivation – A Q-methodology analysis

Despite growing interest in domestic protein production, soybean cultivation in Germany remains limited. This study employs Q-methodology to investigate farmers' perceptions of soybean cultivation in Germany. Through factor analysis of 28 farmers' Q-sorts collected in 2024, we identify three distinct perspectives: Opportunity-Focused, Skepticism, and Market-Oriented yet Risk-Averse. The Opportunity-Focused perspective emphasizes agronomic benefits and rotation improvements, while the Skepticism perspective highlights manure management challenges and operational constraints. The Market-Oriented perspective recognizes future potential but remains cautious about current uncertainties and risks. Areas of consensus include climate change, plant breeding benefits, and marketing challenges. Our findings demonstrate that the gap between potential and actual soybean cultivation extends beyond agronomic limitations to encompass farmers' attitudes, experiences, and market realities. We recommend differentiated approaches combining infrastructure development and tailored knowledge transfer initiatives addressing perspective-specific concerns. These strategies could enhance domestic protein production while contributing to more sustainable agricultural systems in Germany.