Patrick Baur
Papers
2
Total Citations
79
H-Index
2
About
Patrick Baur is a critical scholar of agricultural technology and labor, whose work interrogates the political and social dimensions of automation in farming. His research focuses on how technological change reshapes rural economies, labor relations, and power dynamics, particularly in California’s industrial agriculture. Baur’s most-cited paper, “Replacing humans with machines: a historical look at technology politics in California agriculture” (46 citations), traces the century-long interplay between mechanization, grower interests, and farmworker displacement, revealing that automation is never a neutral process but a contested political choice. In his follow-up study, “Inserting machines, displacing people” (33 citations), he unpacks the “automation imaginaries” that promise liberation from industrialized farming, arguing that these narratives often mask the social costs of job loss and inequality. By blending historical analysis with contemporary policy critique, Baur challenges the assumption that technological progress automatically benefits all. His work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the intersection of technology, labor, and environmental justice, offering a sobering yet vital perspective on the future of food production.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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