Catherine Laurent

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Catherine Laurent is a leading scholar at the intersection of agricultural innovation, knowledge systems, and critical policy analysis. Her research fundamentally challenges conventional approaches to agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS), particularly by integrating assemblage thinking to reveal how political ideologies—such as the primacy of innovation for economic growth—shape and constrain European agricultural policy. Her most-cited work, "Advancing AKIS with Assemblage Thinking" (2022, 33 citations), offers a groundbreaking theoretical framework that exposes the hidden assumptions and power dynamics embedded in mainstream AKIS discourse. By moving beyond simplistic, linear models of innovation, Laurent provides policymakers and researchers with a more nuanced understanding of how knowledge, technology, and institutional arrangements interact in complex, often contradictory ways. Her contributions are vital for anyone seeking to design more equitable, context-sensitive agricultural systems. Dr. Laurent’s work is increasingly influential among scholars of rural sociology, science and technology studies, and agricultural governance, marking her as a critical voice in the ongoing debate over the future of food and farming in Europe and beyond.