WG6 – Enhancing the attractiveness of work in the agri-food sector
IAWA
ISWA2026
Working groups
WG6 – Enhancing the attractiveness of work in the agri-food sector

WG6 – Enhancing the attractiveness of work in the agri-food sector

This working group focuses on strengthening workers’ rights and socio-economic security, such as fair pay, access to benefits, and retirement systems in the Global North contexts, and expanding basic protections for informal and seasonal workers in Global South. It aims to foster dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners on transforming agricultural work into a more attractive and sustainable career choice. The group will generate comparative insights and highlight innovative practices by bringing together perspectives from the countries of Global North and South and other comparable contexts. It will also identify systemic barriers and co-develop policy and practice recommendations. The group further aims to stimulate future collaboration to better understand how to attract and retain agricultural workers across regions.

Convenors: Meena Pandey (University of California, Davis, USA), Nathalie Hostiou (INRAE, France), Marion Beecher (SETU, Ireland)

Defining the concept of job quality in the agricultural sector: evidence from Australia   
Xinyue Tang    
 

Making Agro-Food Work Attractive for Rural Youth: A Field-Based Case Study from the Democratic Republic of Congo   
Bienvenu Bolamba    
 

Climate Change as a Driver of Working Conditions and Farming Attractiveness    
Laura Girdžiūtė, Anastasija Novikova    
 

Collaborative farming as a pathway to attract the next generation of farmers  
Ruth Fennell, Conor Hogan 
 

From Undocumented Labor to Guest Work? H-2A Visas, Legal Status, and Agricultural Work in the United States    
Lisa Meierotto, Rebecca Som Castellano   
 

Identifying benchmarks for attractive and productive workplaces on pasture-based dairy farms in Ireland    
Valerie Guiney, Prof. Mary O' Shaughnessy, Dr. Lana Repar, Prof. Joe Bogue, Dr. Conor Hogan    
 

Mechanisms for Matching Agricultural Supply and Demand: Insights from Italy    
Lucia Tudini, Maria Carmela Macrì    
 

Publication date: 11 September 2026 | By: I Avelange