The trouble with labour

Technology plays an increasingly important role in agriculture and food production. From irrigation systems to robotics and artificial intelligence: smart innovations help make processes more efficient and sustainable. At the same time, these technologies also change how work is organised — and who does the work.

This project brings together a team of researchers, designers and professionals from practice to explore the future of human–robot collaboration in high-tech agriculture, with a focus on greenhouse horticulture. In this sector, digital systems are already widely used to regulate temperature or monitor plant growth. At the same time, it's becoming harder to attract and retain enough labour. Robots seem to offer a solution, but also raise new questions: how will work change? What does this mean for the people on the ground? And how can technology also reflect their perspectives and needs?

The project team involves greenhouse workers, growers, developers, policymakers and trade unions in imagining alternative futures. Using creative methods, participants create physical artefacts that express their vision for future human–technology collaboration. These are presented alongside artworks by Penelope Cain and Špela Petrič, who reflect on the role of humans, technology and nature in greenhouse farming. Together, these contributions open up space for a broader conversation about how we use technology — and how we can shape the work of the future, together.

€139.862,- will be used as a PPP program grant.