IAWA

International Association on Work in Agriculture

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Welcome to the International Association on Work in Agriculture!

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The IAWA - International Association on Agricultural Work - brings together the research and development community studying agricultural work around the world, with the aim of crossing disciplinary and thematic entries. The aim is to understand, analyze and compare the realities of work and workers in agriculture and to reflect on the future of work.  

Subscribe to become a member of the International Association on Work in Agriculture.

3rd International Symposium on Work in Agriculture 2026

logoISWA2026

Save the date!! 7th – 10th July 2026

Important dates

29 August 2025: Deadline for submissions for Working Groups
15 September 2025: Communication on accepted Working-groups' proposals and possible revisions of proposals.
1 October 2025: Launch call for contributions to the accepted Working Groups.

Location:

Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, School of Agricultural, Forest & Food Sciences (BFH-HAFL), Zollikofen, Switzerland

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Agroscope
Bern University of Applied Sciences
article

18 April 2025

By: Isabelle Avelange

5 new members on the IAWA Board

The association strengthens ties with Europe, Africa and Oceania. Welcome to Pierre Girard (Cirad), David Meredith (Teagasc), Ibrahima Diallo (ISRA), Wendy Geza (UKZN), Callum Eastwood (Dairy NZ).
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15 May 2025

By: Sandra Schiavi, Isabelle Avelange

SOBER (Brazil) and IAWA: possibilities of collaboration and partnership

Representatives of IAWA (International Association on Work in Agriculture) and SOBER (Brazilian Society of Rural Economics, Administration and Sociology) boards discussed the possibilities of collaboration and partnership between the two institutions, during a virtual meeting on May 6th.
Bergère conduisant un troupeau de brebis.  MEURET Michel,  Médiathèque INRA

4 news, 8 congress, 2 calls for papers and 23 publications on the theme of work in agriculture, from decent work, migrant workers to mental health and gender.

11 06

Call for Working Groups Addressing current and future challenges of work in agriculture: research, policy and practice for the International Symposium on Work in Agriculture, 7-10 July 2026 Berne, Switzerland

14 01

The agricultural and agri-food sector has a crucial role to play in West Africa in providing decent, attractive jobs for young people.

In a flash

Journal of Rural Studies
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02 April 2025

By: Isabelle Avelange

Investigating ‘decent work’ in agriculture

In Journal of Rural Studies (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd), this special issue, edited by members of IAWA, is based on papers presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Work in Agriculture (29 March – 1 April 2021) and explores application of Decent Work (DW), as conceptualised by the International Labour Organisation, to agriculture.
Journal of Rural Studies
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18 September 2024

By: Isabelle Avelange

Elaborating decent work for agriculture: Job experiences and workforce retention in the Australian orchard industry

This new article, the fruit of the work of some members of the IAWA association, is published in Journal of rural studies. It is a contribution to examine the utiliy of the decent work concept as it relates to the problem of workforce retention. it addresses this using a case study of waged workers' experiences of their jobs in the perennial horticulture (orchard) sector in one region of the Australian state of Victoria, focusing on permanent employees (that is, waged workers engaged in more than seasonal or temporary work)
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23 May 2023

By: Priscila Malanski

Decent Employment and the Future of Agriculture. How Dominant Narratives Prevent Addressing Structural Issues

Special issue from Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems coordinated by IAWA members
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23 May 2023

By: Priscila Malanski

Neither Corporate, Nor Family: The Indian “Patronal” Farm

Special issue from Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems coordinated by IAWA members
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23 May 2023

By: Priscila Malanski

The Multiple Influences on the Future of Work in Agriculture: Global Perspectives

Special issue from Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems coordinated by IAWA members
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23 May 2023

By: Priscila Malanski

An intensive and collective style of farm work that enables the agroecological transition. A case study of six French farm machinery cooperatives

Special issue from Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems coordinated by IAWA members