Why is the grassland assessment an underutilized technology in Patagonia? An approach based on professionals’ perceptions

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the factors that limit the use of grasslandassessment methods in Argentine Patagonia and identifies strategies tostrengthen context-specific management in arid and semi-arid pastoralsystems. Understanding these factors is fundamental to improvingknowledge sharing and decision-making within agricultural educationand extension frameworks.Design/methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews were con-ducted with 37 professionals experienced in grassland assessment. Qmethodology was used to capture convergent and divergent viewpoints,and factor analysis identified distinct perspectives on the use and limita-tion of these tools.Findings: Three perspectives emerged – Certification-Minded Pragma-tists, Optimists with an Integral and Economic Vision, and Skeptics ofGrassland Assessments – explaining 52% of variance. The results indicatethat constraints to adoption are driven primarily by institutional fragmen-tation, limited coordination, and weak integration of local knowledge,and only secondarily by technical limitations. While the value of assess-ment tools is widely recognized, their implementation remains contestedacross contexts and stakeholder groups.Practical implications: Improving the adoption of assessment toolsrequires stronger institutional coordination, participatory processes, andbetter alignment with local socio-ecological conditions. These findingsprovide guidance for policymakers and practitioners working in Patag-onia and comparable arid regions.Theoretical implications: This study contributes to understanding howdivergent professional perspectives shape the translation of technicaltools into practice, emphasizing the role of institutional and governancedynamics in natural resource management.Originality/value: This appears to be among the first studies tosystematically examine professional perspectives on grassland assess-ment in Argentine Patagonia using Q methodology. By linking percep-tions to institutional contexts, it provides empirical evidence to supportmore context-sensitive and collaborative approaches to grasslandmanagement in arid systems.