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The old, the new, or the old made new? Everyday counter-narratives of the so-called fourth agricultural revolution

Rose, David Christian; Barkemeyer, Anna; de Boon, Auvikki; Price, Catherine; Roche, Dannielle

The old, the new, or the old made new? Everyday counter-narratives of the so-called fourth agricultural revolution Thumbnail


Authors

David Christian Rose

Anna Barkemeyer

Auvikki de Boon

Dannielle Roche



Abstract

Prevalent narratives of agricultural innovation predict that we are once again on the cusp of a global agricultural revolution. According to these narratives, this so-called fourth agricultural revolution, or agriculture 4.0, is set to transform current agricultural practices around the world at a quick pace, making use of new sophisticated precision technologies. Often used as a rhetorical device, this narrative has a material effect on the trajectories of an inherently political and normative agricultural transition; with funding, other policy instruments, and research attention focusing on the design and development of new precision technologies. A growing critical social science literature interrogates the promises of revolution. Engagement with new technology is likely to be uneven, with benefits potentially favouring the already powerful and the costs falling hardest on the least powerful. If grand narratives of change remain unchallenged, we risk pursuing innovation trajectories that are exclusionary, failing to achieve responsible innovation. This study utilises a range of methodologies to explore everyday encounters between farmers and technology, with the aim of inspiring further work to compile the microhistories that can help to challenge robust grand narratives of change. We explore how farmers are engaging with technology in practice and show how these interactions problematise a simple, linear notion of innovation adoption and use. In doing so, we reflect upon the contribution that the study of everyday encounters can make in setting more inclusionary, responsible pathways towards sustainable agriculture.

Citation

Rose, D. C., Barkemeyer, A., de Boon, A., Price, C., & Roche, D. (2023). The old, the new, or the old made new? Everyday counter-narratives of the so-called fourth agricultural revolution. Agriculture and Human Values, 40, 423-439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10374-7

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 26, 2022
Online Publication Date Oct 31, 2022
Publication Date 2023-06
Deposit Date Nov 27, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Agriculture and Human Values
Print ISSN 0889-048X
Electronic ISSN 1572-8366
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 40
Pages 423-439
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10374-7
Keywords Everyday, Retro-innovation, Micro-invention, Tinkering, Agriculture 4.0, Fourth agricultural revolution, Technology
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/14304720
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-022-10374-7

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