Risk considerations in the economic assessment of low-input crop production techniques : An example from Swiss wheat production

The role of risks in the adoption of low-input wheat production in Switzerland is investigated using farm-level panel data. Due to governmental support with environmental payments, low-input wheat production is found to be on average more profitable. However, low-input production is also more risky, in particular due to higher yield variability. The here presented analysis reveals that these production risks could become a decisive factor in farmers' adoption decisions of risk-averse farmers if environmental payments were to be reduced or abolished.