Sarah Rotz
Papers
2
Total Citations
502
H-Index
2
About
Sarah Rotz is a critical scholar whose work interrogates the intersection of agricultural technology, labor, and rural communities. Her research focuses on the social and ethical dimensions of agricultural digitalization, particularly how automation and artificial intelligence reshape power dynamics and livelihoods. Rotz’s most influential paper, “Automated pastures and the digital divide” (2019, 493 citations), examines how advanced technologies like sensors and robotics promise efficiency but risk deepening inequalities, creating a “digital divide” that marginalizes small-scale farmers and rural workers. This work has become foundational in debates on sustainable and equitable agri-food tech. In her 2022 paper, “Outsourcing Artificial Intelligence,” Rotz challenges Silicon Valley’s workerless future narratives, revealing how human labor remains essential to cover gaps in autonomous systems. Her contributions bridge critical data studies, political economy, and agrarian studies, offering a vital counterpoint to techno-optimism. Rotz’s research is widely cited by scholars in geography, sociology, and environmental studies, underscoring her impact on understanding technology’s uneven consequences. For students and researchers, her work is essential reading for anyone grappling with the human costs of the digital revolution in agriculture.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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