The memorandum addresses the SPD, the Greens and the FDP and calls on them to give stronger attention to the social conditions of agriculture in their coalition negotiations. The transformation of agriculture is often dominated by economic and technological considerations. There is a lack of approaches and studies that consider the changes in agriculture and the food industry as a complex social phenomenon, says Frieder Thomas from AgrarBündnis e.V., who coordinates the platform. The document addresses the need for action and research in seven points. Furthermore, the paper raises issues such as the change in the understanding of the role of farmers, the change in business models and work processes, as well as working conditions in the context of technological transition. Self-perception and the perception of others, the role of agriculture in the village and the relationship between consumers and producers are further agricultural-social aspects that the network takes into account.
With this document, the platform aims to establish the agricultural and food sociology as an important element in the research landscape as well as in policy advice, alongside economic, ecological and technical advisory fields. In doing so, it aims to influence political, social and scientific discussion processes. To this end, stakeholders from science, associations and agricultural institutions have joined together. From IAMO, researcher Christa Gotter contributed to the paper.