Blog: Paris - and a Springboard to a new research agenda

A group of Harper Adams University academics has just returned from France, where they have been working on a cross-European exchange of ideas, information and research.

In this guest blog, Professor David Rose – the Director of the Centre for Social Science at Harper Adams University and Lead of the Engaging for Change research group – explains more.

Farm labour transformations in an era of digitalisation: a Springboard to a new research agenda

Agricultural digitalisation is being pushed by public and private sector policies and funding in the UK, France, and wider European and International settings, and may be one important factor behind changes in labour arrangements.

But what does this mean for researchers trying to understand the consequences of both digitalisation and changing labour structures for effective farm decision-making and its impacts on people, animals, and crops?

Thanks to funding from the British Council Springboard Programme, ten researchers from the UK’s Harper Adams University and France’s INRAE - seven early career - met in Paris for two days to outline a new research agenda for evaluating the implications of labour transformations.

_{From left – Dr Théo Martin (INRAE), Dr Romane Guillot (INRAE), Dr Yaw Sarfo (Harper Adams), Eléa Golliet-Mercier (INRAE), Dr Nathalie Hostiou (INRAE), Prof David Rose (Harper Adams), Dr Holly Vickery (Harper Adams), Dr Laura Palczynski (Harper Adams), Joanne Sharpe (Harper Adams), Dr Pierre Labarthe (INRAE).}

A key focus of the programme was to strengthen relationships between UK and French researchers from a variety of disciplines, including animal welfare science, economics, extension and geography.

Whilst there was lots of hard work done in the beautiful meeting room at the British Council, there was still time for tasty lunches, dinners, gelato, and Paris sightseeing to strengthen those working relationships – even if one member of the Harper team claimed to have walked past Notre-Dame without seeing it!

The team will work towards publishing a research agenda paper on the topic and working jointly together in future.

In the near future, four early career researchers will undertake institutional exchanges to share lessons and build networks. Joanne Sharpe and Dr Yaw Sarfo from Harper Adams will visit INRAE, whilst Dr Romane Guillot and Eléa Golliet-Mercier from INRAE will visit Harper Adams.

Speaking about the trip, Yaw said: "Being part of an exchange program between Harper Adams University and INRAE was a truly rewarding experience for me as a young researcher. Working within an international group brought diverse perspectives on how digitalisation can shape labour dynamics in agriculture.

"I found it especially valuable to exchange ideas across cultures and disciplines, deepening my understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved.

"This experience not only strengthened my appreciation for collaborative research - but also reinforced the importance of ensuring that digitalisation supports sustainable production. I'm excited and looking forward to my exchange program in Toulouse next month."

Dr Laura Palczynski added: “It was great to take part in collaboratively shaping the research agenda. Meeting face-to-face really helped to exchange ideas, build a strong concept, and agree a cohesive approach together.

"Everyone brings a different perspective to the topic, which really enriched our conversations with thoughtful questions and clarifications. I am looking forward to working on the research agenda paper, and to whatever future opportunities this exchange will bring!”