New date: International Symposium on Work in Agriculture from March 29 to April 1 in Clermont-Ferrand

ISWA 2021: Thinking the Future of Work in Agriculture.

1.3 billion people work in agriculture, the sector representing 25 % of the total employment in the world. Work in agriculture faces continuities, such as the ongoing model of a dominant family-based activity but also with a high contribution of wage earners to the work (42 % of farmworkers are salaried) as well as the large diversity of work contents due to the various production systems (vegetables, crops, indoor or outdoor livestock, etc.) and to the various models of work organization (taylorism, cooperation, externalization of tasks).

But work in agriculture also faces changes referring to various dynamics:

• the emergence of « firm models » with a large use of contractors, as a new figure of highly productive farms;
• the development of agroecological farming systems combining a large diversity of production systems and regular interactions between farmers and consumers;
• the more and more meaningful contribution of migrants to farm work particularly in many OECD countries;
• the end of ignorance of the negative impacts of chemicals on workers’ health;
• the consolidation of global chains and its reflects on work and labor governance;
• the use of new technologies (robots, sensors, internet) that modify work rhythms, workload and the skills required under the paradigm of Agricultures 4.0.

These changes and continuities question the future of work in agriculture: employment, gender equity, health, professional identities, skills, organization, farming models, working conditions and quality of life at work. Are sufficient knowledge, useful frameworks and tools provided to follow up the changes of work in a sustainable way? Are the various dimensions of work (employment, health, organization…) connected to build prospects for decent work in the future?

The 2nd Symposium welcomes research, education and extension contributions. The Symposium welcomes various disciplinary approaches of work such as Economics, Ergonomics, Medicine and Health Sciences, Design, Sociology, Management, agrarian sciences and Farming Systems.It proposes conferences and workshops including oral presentations and poster sessions. Round tables including participatory discussions and a tool bazard to debate on the different dimensions of work, to explore cross cutting issues, dealing with a deep understanding of the work in agriculture continuities and changes, exploring future scenarios and providing resources for the future.