Adopting technology: How Women Play a Critical Role in Agriculture
With increasing demands for Australian beef and a shortage of rural workers, farmers are turning to on-farm technology to help manage livestock, crops and horticulture to boost productivity and integrate more sustainable practices. While both men and women farm, it is women who are driving the technology from the farmhouse to the paddock, meaning women are playing a larger role in decision making in agri-business.
As empowering as this shift in leadership is, the battle for equality is far from won. While men are adopting technology faster than ever before, women are primarily responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance of adopted technologies, creating more responsibility for farming women.
Research from James Cook University’s Dr Rachel Hay, explores how Australian women are pivoting to embrace tech-based beef production practices. In a recent webinar, Dr Hay explores the engagement of women and technology in agriculture, especially the importance of rural women’s roles in managing technology and the valuable skills they bring to decision-making in management and leadership.
You can watch the full presentation below.