LWA Responds to the Soil Association's 'AgroEco-Tech' Report

The Soil Association’s ‘AgroEcoTech: How can Technology Accelerate a Transition to Agroecology?’ report was released last month to offer a starting point for discussion within the agroecological farming sector on new science and technologies for food production. 

Bearing in mind the consequences that new, powerful technologies – like blockchain, robotics and biotechnology – can have on agroecological land workers and peasants across the globe, the LWA has some serious misgivings about the report – particularly its lack of social and political analysis.

The question of technology in agroecological systems requires a nuanced and rigorous social impact analysis, through which we are able to anticipate and actively curb pitfalls. Most of the technologies analysed in the report are not intrinsically ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – but it’s how they are used, who controls them, who benefits from them, who has access and who does not, and who bears risks which are cause for concern. Social justice is fundamental to agroecology; without a framework designed to anticipate and avoid inequity, we have no means to assert control.