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

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSmilnak, David Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeechairNiewolny, Kimberly Leeen
dc.contributor.committeememberScherer, Hannah H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWhite, Robinen
dc.contributor.committeememberPosadas, Brianna Belenen
dc.contributor.departmentAgricultural, Leadership, and Community Educationen
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-22T09:01:26Zen
dc.date.available2025-01-22T09:01:26Zen
dc.date.issued2025-01-21en
dc.description.abstractAgricultural 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.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralAgricultural technology has often increased social inequalities. As agriculture moves into a new technological era, called "Ag 4.0," it is unclear how our land-grant universities like Virginia Tech, are thinking about the social impacts of their research on agricultural technology. This case study, using a theory called critical systems heuristics, focuses on Virginia Tech's Center for Agricultural Innovation in Agriculture (CAIA) to understand the social implications of the technologies they develop. Social implications include the effects technology may have on one's ability to farm according to cultural practice or ability to afford the technology. Using five methods — key informant interviews, document reviews, surveys, stakeholder interviews, and a focus group — the study shows that CAIA sought to encourage innovative research across different academic disciplines. However, in practice, CAIA functions as a way to support existing projects of Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty. Although CAIA's affiliated faculty stive to consider the social impact of its work, its main focus is developing agricultural technology that is broadly useful to the agricultural industry. This reflects trends in today's higher education system, where universities are increasingly mindful of their economic and political context. However, CAIA could take steps to increase its focus on social impacts by involving a wider range of voices in research and ensuring that its partnerships with private businesses directly support small and medium-sized farms in Virginia. This study adds to the conversation about how universities can play a role in promoting socially responsible technology in agriculture.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:42053en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/124296en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/en
dc.subjectSystems thinkingen
dc.subjectAgriculture 4.0en
dc.subjectPolitical Economyen
dc.subjectAgricultural Innovation Systemsen
dc.subjectCritical Systemsen
dc.titleA Critical Systems Case Study in Agricultural Technology Development at the Land-Grant Universityen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineAgricultural and Extension Educationen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Smilnak_DM_D_2025.pdf
Size:
5.7 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Doctoral Dissertations