06/01/2020
** Funded PhD Opportunity in School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University**
Getting smart about automated horticulture: new knowledges, practices and technologies
Supervisors: Dr. Christopher Bear and Dr. Hannah Pitt
The way food is grown is changing, with increasing reliance on smart technologies. Such changes will have implications for those working in horticultural and are promoted widely as a solution to ongoing and future labour issues. So far technological advances have largely been approached as a technical issue, neglecting social implications. This project is an opportunity to explore these social dimensions with a focus on implications for growers. It is in partnership with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board who lead work to prepare the sector for technological advances, supporting businesses to adapt to automation. The research will investigate how smart food growing technologies (e.g. robotics, AI) will alter the nature of work, recruitment, training and business investments. Questions might include how agricultural transitions affect rural communities and social inequalities, or what determines decisions to adopt (or otherwise) new horticultural technologies. The research will develop insight to horticultural knowledge, expertise and practice, providing a critical geographic perspective on likely futures for UK horticulture and wider food-system sustainability.
Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second class honours degree, or appropriate Master’s degree. Both the University and the ESRC Wales DTP value diversity and equality at all levels and we encourage applications from all sections of the community. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full time year of research training Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant.
Applications welcomed by 3 February 2020 (1200 hours). Please contact Chris or Hannah for more details.
