Each of the case study sites organised their demonstration events to suit the local conditions (duration, location, number of people invited, a stand-alone event or in combination with another event). However, all events contain at least the following elements:

1. Discussion about the challenge of soil quality improvement and demonstration of selected AMP
2. Discussion about information available to help soil quality improvement and demonstration of SQAPP
3. Collection of feedback from the participants

1. Demonstration and discussion of AMP of local interest

Discussion about the challenge of soil quality improvement and the AMP demonstration was supported by generic handouts (Figure 1) and roll-up posters on the iSQAPER project and the description of the AMP of local interest. See »Good practice leaflets for the full collection of leaflets about recommended AMPs. The aim of the discussion sessions was to gain information about what factors might motivate adoption of the AMP and what additional actions/support are needed do so.

Figure 1

In many study sites, the events included visits to experimental stations or farms so that the participants could see how the recommended practices have been implemented in the field and with what results.

2. Demonstration and discussion of SQAPP v2

The second part of the events involved explanations about how to download and use SQAPP, what it can (and cannot) do, where the data sets come from, how the management practice recommendations SQAPP gives can be improved if local data is added. In each study site examples of local practice recommendations were evaluated by inviting the participants to vote on them (for example with stickers: green - I already use this AMP, light green – I am interested in this AMP, yellow – I might be interested in this AMP, orange – I am not interested in this AMP/this is irrelevant for this area.) (Figure 2). The purpose of this exercise was to generate interest in and discussion of the app and to enable the participants to provide informed feedback on it.

Figure 2

3. Collection of feedback using questionnaire

In the final part of each event, feedback was collected by questionnaire from as many participants as possible. This was done in a variety of ways including: asking the participants to complete the questionnaire themselves or using assistants to conduct informal interviews. All study sites were asked to aim for at least 10-15 completed questionnaires and to include both male and female respondents.

In formulating the questions, account was taken of the concept of a multi-level perspective which is currently prominent in the sustainable transition literature. Sustainable transitions include changes in technology, consumer practice, policies, cultural meaning, infrastructure and business models. From this perspective, everyone who comes to a demonstration event is involved in some way in the transition and therefore the questions need to be broad enough to include everyone’s input.

1. In what role are you attending this event?
2. What is your gender?
3. What actions do you take (in your job or otherwise) to protect the soil?
4. What is your motivation for these actions?
5. What would enable you to do more?
6. What prevents you from doing more?
7. For the management practice of to be widely adopted in this area, what issues do you think would have to be addressed
8. What aspect of the SQAPP app interests you most?
9. Are there any improvements or changes you think should be made to SQAPP to make it a tool that you would use regularly?