The impact of digitalization and automation on horticultural employees – A systematic literature review and field study

• Published in: Journal of rural studies 2022-10, Vol.95, p.560-569
• Main Authors: Sam, Schröder, Mira, Lehberger, Kai, Sparke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agricultural research; Agricultural technology; Automation; Digitization; Emotions; Employees; Farmers; Field study; Food chains; Healthy food; Horticulture; Innovations; Literature reviews; Modernization; New technology; Primary production; Qualitative content analysis; Questions; Skills; Systematic review; Technological innovation; Value chain; Value engineering; Work environment; Work satisfaction; Work skills; Workers; Working conditions; Workplaces
• ISSN: 0743-0167; 1873-1392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.09.016

Modernization processes affect all parts of food value chains, including primary production. Here, most research on agricultural innovations focuses on the perspective of farmers. However, the adaption of new technologies directly changes the work environment and everyday working tasks of employees. Our study focuses on horticultural employees and aims to answer the research question of how digitalization and automation affect them and their work. To answer this question, we first performed a systematic literature review (SLR) based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. We then conducted a field study with 15 employees working in German horticultural production. We find that most SLR findings are enriched and confirmed by the field study evidence. With both approaches, we find that digitalization and automation affect horticultural employees in five key areas: the (i) amount and (ii) type of work they have to perform, their (iii) health and (iv) income, and (v) the skills they need for their occupation. However, some findings are also contradictory. For instance, the field study suggested that employees need technological skills to successfully work with any new devices or machinery. However, the SLR suggested that new technology is typically self-explanatory and can be run by anyone. Our results are relevant for horticultural managers who aim to enhance working conditions in the horticultural sector and make workplaces more attractive. Overall, our results suggest that little is known about the perspective of horticultural employees at present. Consequently, further research is needed in this area. •Little is known on horticultural employees' perspective on modern technology.•We combined a SLR and a field study to identify impacts of technology on employees.•Technologies can change horticultural employees' amount and type of work.•They can have positive and negative affects on employees' health and skill levels.•Evidence suggest that income can be affected positively by increased technology use.