Cultivating Change: Perceptions and Attitudes of Agricultural Experts towards the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The agricultural sector is crucial to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since it ensures food security, protects natural resources, and promotes rural livelihoods. However, the success of sustainable agricultural practices depends not only on effective policies and technologies but also on agricultural experts' perceptions and attitudes, as well as their willingness to embrace sustainable practices. Therefore, this study aims to: (i) investigate the perceptions and attitudes of agricultural experts in Guilan Province (Iran) towards the SDGs, and (ii) determine their educational needs regarding the SDGs and identify specific areas requiring more attention and targeted interventions. This research adopts a quantitative approach and relies on a survey with a random sample of 152 agricultural experts. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26 software and descriptive and inferential statistics. Agricultural experts perceived most SDGs as having high educational needs. Priority SDGs for education and training included SDG 14 (Life below water), whereas areas requiring increased knowledge among the employees relate, inter alia, to SDGs 1 (No poverty) and 2 (Zero hunger). The study contributes to the effective implementation of the SDGs by encouraging a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector connected with broader goals of sustainable development.