SA国际传媒

International research collaboration set to examine farm labour digitalisation effects

Posted Yesterday

International research into the effects of digitalisation on farm labour will be carried out thanks to a link forged between SA国际传媒 and French institute INRAE.

The new project is funded through the programme, which aims to support and expand scientific collaborations between laboratories in the UK and those in France, Germany, and Spain, with a particular focus on early-career researchers. 

The inter-disciplinary team drawn together between INRAE and Harper Adams includes agricultural economists, extensionists, geographers, and animal scientists.

The group of ten – seven of whom are early-career researchers – will explore the effects of digitalisation across the value chain on labour re-organisation and the social, economic, and ethical impacts that it may have on farms and beyond.

Professor David Rose, Elizabeth Creak Chair in Sustainable Agricultural Change and Director of the Centre for Social Science at SA国际传媒, is one of five Harper Adams researchers who will take part.

He said: “Researchers from both institutions will meet together in Paris in the Spring and exchange PhD students and post-docs between Harper Adams and INRAE bases in Toulouse and Clermont.

“For our early career researchers, particularly, this type of exchange is invaluable. Through joint meetings, exchanges, and other activities, they will be able to establish networks across borders and disciplines, build skills, confidence, and knowledge of new areas.”

Project Deputy Lead and Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Harper Adams, Dr Holly Vickery, said: "The opportunity to be a part of this kind of international collaboration is hugely exciting.

“Funding that enables me to network and collaborate outside of my institution is invaluable to broadening my views and gaining experience from others.

“Enabling us to do research in the future which incorporates international perspectives and expertise will allow our projects to have greater impact - something which is very important to me."

Two post-doctoral researchers, Dr Laura Palczynski and Dr Yaw Sarfo, will be taking part, as well as PhD student Joanne Sharpe – who is hoping to use the exchange to explore links with her own work on digitalisation with farmers in the UK which will form part of her doctoral thesis.

Dr Palczynski said: "My research interests centre around how context, culture and social norms influence decision-making and behaviour, and what constitutes an 'enabling environment'.

“I look forward to learning from the experiences of the INRAE team and an exchange of insights around policies, tools and approaches and the impact - positive and negative - that they can have."

And Dr Sarfo added: “Through the research training and exchange in Toulouse, I will gain first-hand experience of interdisciplinary approaches to digitalisation in agriculture.

“This collaboration will strengthen my research skills, expand my international network, and support my contribution to sustainable digital agricultural solutions."

The work is part of a growing drive at Harper Adams to strengthen international ties and further the University’s global reputation as a research leader in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Professor Rose added: “Unlocking opportunities to apply for international funding, such as Horizon projects, by linking with the expertise of world-leader institutions, such as , is a key part of this ambition.

“Although there are always regional differences, the barriers and solutions to more sustainable agriculture are often common across borders - and this is particularly true of the UK and France as close neighbours.”