Farming 4.0: Investigating How the Digital Data Revolution May Change How We Produce Food and the Nature of Rural Communities
About the Project
The world is on the cusp of a digital agricultural revolution that promises the ability to produce more food with less environmental impact. Canada is poised to be a pioneer in this sector and is already a leader in technologies such as "smart -driverless- tractors" and "robotic milkers" that allow farmers to reduce inputs while boosting profits (Butler et al 2012). Canada's agri-food industry is currently the largest global exporter of commodities such as flaxseed, canola, and wheat, and contributes to 1 out of every 8 jobs (AAFC, 2013; 2016). The federal government's Advisory Council for Economic Growth argued that by investing in this sector, "Canada will become the trusted global leader in safe, nutritious, and sustainable food for the 21st century" (2017,10). However, while the explosion of digital technologies in agriculture may provide a host of benefits, there are growing social concerns. For instance, these technologies are currently accessible to only a few. In addition, it is unclear who will benefit from the economic opportunities associated with these disruptive technologies (Carolan, 2017). Many of these technologies are data-driven and this means concerns pertaining to cyber security (normally associated with the IT and financial sector) are becoming issues for growers (Bronson 2018). Exploring the social impact from the growers and rural community's perspective is critical if the emergence of the digital agricultural revolution is to promote the social good. This study will directly respond to three SSHRC future challenge areas, namely: 1) What new ways of learning, particularly in higher education, will Canadians need to thrive in an evolving society and labour market? 2) How can emerging technologies be leveraged to benefit Canadians? 3) What knowledge will Canada need to thrive in an interconnected, evolving global landscape? This research has the following key objectives:
1) To conduct a cross country comparative investigation on how growers perceive the social impacts of emerging digital agricultural technologies for producers in four Canadian provinces and sectors;
2) Using both the survey and case study findings, the second objective is to explore producers' adoption and engagement with digital agricultural technologies especially in relation to the issues of equity, knowledge management and data accessibility; and
3) To better inform policy decisions around investments in education and training focused on the development of data-driven agricultural technologies and competencies.
The objectives will be addressed through a multi-method comparative analysis approach in four research sites and sectors. The B.C. study (Horticulture) will include an experimental study testing a recently developed open source farm software app for farmers. The studies in Saskatchewan (Cereal, grain, oilseed and pulse), Atlantic Canada (Aquaculture) and Ontario (Dairy) will assess grower's perception, the sector's willingness to adopt, and the anticipated impact of disruptive technologies. A second study in Ontario will examine the implications of these technologies for labour and post-secondary training. In terms of theoretical orientation, we will utilize two conceptual lenses. First, practice theory considers the structures and socio-economic factors that influence how and why a person might adopt a new practice(s). Second, to better understand the long-term social and environmental implications of disruptive digital technology, we will employ resilience theory. In this way, social practice theory allows us to ask "why and how do people adopt new technologies" where resilience theory provides the tools tounderstand the social and ecological implications of these technological changes.