Elizabeth Finnis
Papers
1
Total Citations
493
H-Index
1
About
Elizabeth Finnis is a leading scholar in the sociology of agriculture and rural development, with a core focus on the social and ethical dimensions of agricultural technology. Her research critically examines how the “digital revolution” in farming—encompassing sensors, AI, and robotics—reshapes labour, rural communities, and power dynamics. Her most-cited work, “Automated pastures and the digital divide” (2019, 493 citations), provides a landmark analysis of how advanced agricultural technologies, while promising efficiency, risk exacerbating inequalities by creating a digital divide between large-scale, tech-enabled operations and smaller, resource-constrained farms. This paper has become essential reading for understanding the social costs of agricultural automation. Finnis’s broader contributions explore the intersection of technology, labour, and community resilience, challenging techno-optimistic narratives by centering the experiences of marginalized rural actors. Her work is widely cited by scholars in rural sociology, science and technology studies, and agricultural policy. Through her incisive, field-based research, Finnis offers a vital counterpoint to purely technical discussions of agricultural innovation, making her a key voice in debates about the future of food systems and rural livelihoods.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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