Farmers' Mental Health in the Fourth Agricultural Revolution

Rose, D.C. (2025) Farmers' Mental Health in the Fourth Agricultural Revolution. In: Agriculture 4.0: Towards a New Agri-Food Ecosystem. Springer nature. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

So-called “agriculture 4.0” (or “fourth agricultural revolution”) technologies, such as artificial intelligence, drones, and robotics and automation, may have a key role to play in the future of farming. There is a burgeoning literature in the social sciences that explores the distributional justice associated with so-called agriculture 4.0, namely how benefits and costs may be unevenly distributed (de Boon et al., 2023). Several themes have emerged from this work, including the potential impacts of agriculture 4.0 on corporate control and power, data ownership, farmer autonomy, job satisfaction, the farm workforce, and uneven rates of adoption. However, there has been relatively little work directly linking technology and mental health of farmers. Understanding better the factors affecting farmer mental health is important because global research consistently shows high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in some parts of the farming community. This chapter reviews current work that either directly explores digital technology and farmer mental health, or that may indirectly provide insights on the topic because the study considers the impact of technology on a known factor that influences mental health. Although further research is needed to unpack this topic, the clear message from the chapter concerns the “double-edged sword” nature of emergent technologies and the fact that knowledge is situated. For some farmers, new technologies can enhance mental health by improving the attractiveness of farming, job satisfaction, and lifestyles, and improve succession rates. For others, particularly those unable to invest or adopt, or those who hold different views on the attractiveness of farming and connection to land and animals, agriculture 4.0 may not lead to more positive mental health. Further research is needed in this under-explored area.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	agriculture 4.0, landscapes of support, precision agriculture, mental health, wellbeing.
Divisions:	Agriculture and Environment (from 1.08.20)
Depositing User:	Mrs Susan Howe
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2026 14:22
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2026 14:22
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18304

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