A Critical Systems Case Study in Agricultural Technology Development at the Land-Grant University

Agricultural technology development has historically exacerbated social inequities. As agriculture progresses into the latest technological revolution – Ag 4.0 – it is unclear how institutions such as land-grant universities are considering the social implications of their agricultural technology research. The purpose of this study is to explore how land-grant university initiatives focusing on agricultural technology consider the implications of agricultural technology research. To do so, this research focuses on Virginia Tech's Center for Agricultural Innovation in Agriculture (CAIA). Guided by critical systems heuristics, this case study utilizes five data collection methods to inform a critical case study including: key informant interviews, a document review, a survey, stakeholder interviews, and a focus group. While striving to be a cross-campus interdisciplinary and innovative research incubator the findings revealed in the five years since its establishment, CAIA has been shaped by structural norms at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), reducing its interdisciplinary and innovation potential. Rather, CAIA supports the existing research of CALS faculty. CAIA has adopted measures of success that ideologically aligned with techno-solutionism and, while present, consideration for the social impact of agricultural technology research is a secondary priority. While this is consistent with ongoing trends in a neoliberalized higher education system, CAIA can take deliberate steps to uplift social impact in agricultural technology research such as being deliberate with who is engaged in the center towards interdisciplinary research, and working with CALS to ensure public-private partnerships serve the direct needs of small and medium-sized growers in Virginia. Empirically, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse around the neoliberalized land-grant university and the use of critical systems heuristics to guide research involving agricultural innovation systems.