Sociotechnical imaginaries for Canadian agri-food futures: a farmer survey

Abstract

Paper summary generated by OpenAI: This study explores Canadian farmers’ sociotechnical imaginaries regarding digital agricultural technologies through a survey of 1,000 participants. Utilizing affective image analysis and a novel scale, the research identifies three primary narratives: concerns over power imbalances, the belief in technology’s role in sustainable food production, and the potential for collaboration between farmers and robots. While farmers express positive immediate feelings towards digital technologies, their overall optimism about future impacts is mild, particularly regarding broader sector implications. This work contributes to the understanding of farmer perspectives on digitalization in agriculture, highlighting the complexity of their views amidst polarized public discourse.