The fourth agricultural revolution: how can we ensure that innovation is responsible?

Agriculture sits on the cusp of a fourth technology revolution. New technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Drones, Big Data, the Internet of Things, robotics, gene editing (and more!), have the potential to transform food production beyond recognition. Impacts may be positive, increasing production and eco-efficiency, but the social and ethical impacts are currently not being carefully considered.

Ensuring that this fourth agricultural revolution is responsible is important. This fully-funded (UK/EU students) studentship will investigate how agri-tech innovation in the UK can be responsible. This may include addressing some of the following questions: (1) how do innovators come to know what publics think of new technologies and are their views taken into account?, (2) what are the best ways of including diverse publics in decision-making on agri-tech trajectories?, (3) what governance structures are required to oversee responsible agri-tech innovation?, (4) how can we anticipate the consequences of new agricultural technologies?. There will be considerable scope for the student to take the project in a particular direction, as long as the core focus is the responsible innovation of agri-tech in the UK. Students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged.

Informal enquiries can be submitted to Dr David Rose at [Email Address Removed]. Applicants applying to this position should send a CV and also a cover letter explaining their relevant experience and skills to [Email Address Removed]