[Defended thesis] George Aboueldahab: Digital technologies in the agroecological transition: development, contributions and challenges of opensource organizations geared to small farmers

Digital technologies in the agroecological transition: development, contributions and challenges of opensource organizations geared to small farmers
 

• Starting date: October 2019
• University: University of Montpellier
• PhD school: EDEG – Economie Gestion Montpellier
• Scientific field: Management sciences
• Thesis management: Florence Palpacuer, Université de Montpellier, MRM
• Thesis management:  Florence Palpacuer, Université de Montpellier, MRM et Myriam Kessari, CIHEAM-IAMM
• Funding: #DigitAg – Université de Montpellier
• #DigitAg : Cofunded thesis – Axes 1 & 2 – Challenges : transversal & 7

Keywords: Open source, agroecological transition, small producers, alternative organization, hybrid space

Résumé : Recent research on the agroecological transition of food systems underlines the importance of i) the creation and mobilization of new agroecological knowledges, ii) the involvement of actors (farmers, agricultural advisors, …) in the construction and adaptation of such knowledges to the needs of the territories, and iii) a reconnection of agricultural production and local consumption. In such perspective, the thesis proposal focuses on new forms of organization mobilizing open source technologies to promote the sharing of resources, networking, and the re-appropriation of agricultural tools by farmers, in favor of agroecology. The scope of the research will cover opensource organizations operating at various stages of the value chain, from the sharing of tools and techniques fitted for small scale agroecological production upstream the chain, to downstream marketing activities via platforms connecting small producers with consumers. On the basis of a multiple case study method, the thesis aims to analyze the structuring of these opensource organizations, how they mutualize and generate new agroecological capabilities, how they are mobilized by farmers, and how they address the stakes of economic viability and sustainability. Grounded in the field of management sciences, the thesis will draw on related fields such as the economy, sociology and geography of food systems, while receiving support from computing and agronomic sciences so as to better account for the technical specificities and challenges of the initiatives under study.

Jury compound:

M. Antoine Blanc, Professeur des Universités, Université de Lille, Rapporteur
M. Olivier Germain, Professeur des Universités, Université du Québec à Montréal, Rapporteur
Mme Pascale Château-Terrisse, Maître de Conférences HDR, INP-ENSAT, Examinatrice
M. Pierre Labarthe, Directeur de recherche HDR, INRAE Occitanie-Toulouse, Examinateur
Mme Magalie Marais, Associate Professor HDR, Montpellier Business School, Examinatrice
M. Gérald Naro, Professeur des Universités, Université de Montpellier, Examinateur
M. Cyrille Pacteau, Administrateur, Graine des Montagnes, Invité
Mme Myriam-Emilie Kessari, Enseignante-Chercheure, CIHEAM-IAMM, Co-encadrante de thèse
Mme Florence Palpacuer, Professeur des Universités, Université de Montpellier, Directrice de thèse