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Democratizing ownership and participation in the 4th Industrial Revolution: challenges and opportunities in cellular agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Robert M. Chiles

    (Penn State University
    Penn State University)

  • Garrett Broad

    (Fordham University)

  • Mark Gagnon

    (Penn State University)

  • Nicole Negowetti

    (Harvard Law School)

  • Leland Glenna

    (Penn State University)

  • Megan A. M. Griffin

    (Penn State University)

  • Lina Tami-Barrera

    (Penn State University)

  • Siena Baker

    (Penn State University)

  • Kelly Beck

    (Penn State University)

Abstract

The emergence of the “4th Industrial Revolution,” i.e. the convergence of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, advanced materials, and bioengineering technologies, could accelerate socioeconomic insecurities and anxieties or provide beneficial alternatives to the status quo. In the post-Covid-19 era, the entities that are best positioned to capitalize on these innovations are large firms, which use digital platforms and big data to orchestrate vast ecosystems of users and extract market share across industry sectors. Nonetheless, these technologies also have the potential to democratize ownership, broaden political-economic participation, and reduce environmental harms. We articulate the potential sociotechnical pathways in this high-stakes crossroads by analyzing cellular agriculture, an exemplary 4th Industrial Revolution technology that synergizes computer science, biopharma, tissue engineering, and food science to grow cultured meat, dairy, and egg products from cultured cells and/or genetically modified yeast. Our exploration of this space involved multi-sited ethnographic research in both (a) the cellular agriculture community and (b) alternative economic organizations devoted to open source licensing, member-owned cooperatives, social financing, and platform business models. Upon discussing how these latter approaches could potentially facilitate alternative sociotechnical pathways in cellular agriculture, we reflect upon the broader implications of this work with respect to the 4th Industrial Revolution and the enduring need for public policy reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert M. Chiles & Garrett Broad & Mark Gagnon & Nicole Negowetti & Leland Glenna & Megan A. M. Griffin & Lina Tami-Barrera & Siena Baker & Kelly Beck, 2021. "Democratizing ownership and participation in the 4th Industrial Revolution: challenges and opportunities in cellular agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 943-961, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:38:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10460-021-10237-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-021-10237-7
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    3. Kok, Kristiaan P.W. & Klerkx, Laurens, 2023. "Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    4. da Silveira, Franco & da Silva, Sabrina Letícia Couto & Machado, Filipe Molinar & Barbedo, Jayme Garcia Arnal & Amaral, Fernando Gonçalves, 2023. "Farmers' perception of the barriers that hinder the implementation of agriculture 4.0," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    5. Asioli, Daniele & Fuentes-Pila, Joaquìn & Alarcón, Silverio & Han, Jia & Liu, Jingjing & Hocquette, Jean-Francois & Nayga, Rodolfo M., 2022. "Consumers’ valuation of cultured beef Burger: A Multi-Country investigation using choice experiments," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    6. Moritz, Jana & McPartlin, Maria & Tuomisto, Hanna L. & Ryynänen, Toni, 2023. "A multi-level perspective of potential transition pathways towards cultured meat: Finnish and German political stakeholder perceptions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(9).
    7. William Lacy, 2023. "Local food systems, citizen and public science, empowered communities, and democracy: hopes deserving to live," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Katrin Martens & Jana Zscheischler, 2022. "The Digital Transformation of the Agricultural Value Chain: Discourses on Opportunities, Challenges and Controversial Perspectives on Governance Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Claire Brown & Áine Regan & Simone van der Burg, 2023. "Farming futures: Perspectives of Irish agricultural stakeholders on data sharing and data governance," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(2), pages 565-580, June.
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    12. Räty, Niko & Tuomisto, Hanna L. & Ryynänen, Toni, 2023. "On what basis is it agriculture?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

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