The construction of the meaning of work for livestock farmers engaged in the agroecological transition

La construction du sens du travail pour les éleveurs engagés dans la transition agroécologique

Camille Berrier (1, 2) , Nathalie Girard (1)

1 AGIR - AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires
2 LPS-DT - Laboratoire Psychologie de la Socialisation - Développement et Travail

In the context of agricultural ecologisation, some farmers are undertaking major changes in their practices, which have an impact on the performance of their farm, their work organisation, as well as their identity and the meaning given to their work. This last dimension has so far received little attention, even though studying it is essential to accompany these deep changes in professions and new ways of working. In order to contribute to this question, our research in social psychology aims to explore the psychosocial processes at play in the reconstruction of the meaning of work for farmers engaged in the agroecological transition. We rely on a theoretical framework that allows us to jointly explore the subjective and social dimensions of behaviours at work. This communication proposes the results of an exploratory study conducted in 2018 via ten semi-directive interviews with livestock farmers in a French network that promotes the use of semi-natural vegetation to feed ruminants. We analysed these interviews by studying both personalisation and socialisation processes that we divided into seven axes of analysis. The results show a strong willingness of these farmers to personalise their practices by experimenting, mobilising their senses and emotions, anchoring their practices on their intrinsic motivations and comparing their system with others, in search of freedom and autonomy. The results also show the need for livestock farmers to share their practices within a community of peers. When discussing the reasons for their choices with their peers, they find the support necessary to reassure themselves, to collectively build the meaning of what they are doing, and to strengthen their professional identity. This study confirms the relevance of jointly studying the processes of personal construction and socialisation of work changes in the agricultural world. It opens up prospects for more indepth exploration of their diversity, with the aim of improving the support of farmers engaging in the agroecological transition.

Keywords: agroecological transition; psychosocial processes; livestock farmers; farming practices; professional transition

Domains: Psychology

Camille Berrier, Nathalie Girard. The construction of the meaning of work for livestock farmers engaged in the agroecological transition. 2nd international symposium on work in agriculture (ISWA), Mar 2021, Clermont-Ferrand, France. ⟨hal-03171582⟩