Digitization in Agriculture: A Timely Challenge for Ecological Perspectives

Abstract

The main focus of political debates on digital agriculture has been on environmental sustainability. So far, the literature has primarily ignored social sustainability, notably labor issues. This is worrisome because digitization may fundamentally alter farming techniques and labor processes, potentially affecting rural development, rural communities, and migratory workers. It examines how digital technology affects labor in horticulture and agricultural fields. To incorporate labor into the debates around agriculture and digitalization, this article provides a detailed picture of how digital technologies affect agricultural labor. Results suggest new forms of labor management, intensification of work processes, and risks of working-class fragmentation along age lines. Digitalization has not resulted in worker or farmer deskilling. The claim of greater worker dependency due to reduced agricultural employment possibilities is disputed. The importance of creating agricultural policies that promote fair and equitable working conditions.