Digital technologies, automation and data science are increasingly used in animal farming for a wide range of purposes that include farm management, monitoring the health and welfare of livestock animals, biosecurity governance, animal breeding and supply chain management, among others. These technologies are often presented as offering pathways to increased productivity and efficiency in farming, better welfare for animals, and solutions to grand challenges such as climate change adaptation. But their introduction into farming also holds implications for people, animals, the environment and food systems that are not yet well understood.
Our research seek to understand how data and digital technology are changing animal agriculture, and what this means for society and livestock animals themselves. We aim to find new ways of co-producing data and digital technologies in animal farming that are inclusive of diverse stakeholders (including the perspectives of animals themselves) and are attentive to power dynamics, the uneven distribution of risks and benefits, and the environmental effects of digital systems.
Digital Animals – Documentary Film
Our short documentary film ‘Digital Animals’ explores some of these issues in British agriculture. Watch the trailer below, and come back in July 2024 to view the full film. For more information, see our Film page.
About
The research is based at the University of Exeter and has been funded by EPSRC through DIGIT Lab, a Next Stage Digital Economy Centre, and an Impact Accelerator Award.
For more information, contact Prof Sarah Hartley (sarah.hartley@exeter.ac.uk) or Dr Hugh Williamson (h.williamson@exeter.ac.uk).