• New research from Adelaide University is questioning the widespread use of the term “resilience” in Australian agriculture, arguing that its overuse can place unfair pressure on individual farmers and obscure the need for systemic support. • Published in the Journal of Rural Studies, the study explores the perspectives of women involved in farming businesses across Australia, examining how resilience is understood, experienced, and talked about within the sector.
Article Summaries:
- Adelaide University researchers have published a study in the Journal of Rural Studies that critiques the frequent use of the term “resilience” in Australian agriculture. The paper argues that the concept, while popular, places undue pressure on individual farmers-particularly women-by framing challenges as personal endurance rather than systemic issues. By surveying women running farming businesses across the country, the study examines how resilience is defined, lived, and discussed within the sector. The authors contend that overreliance on the term obscures the need for broader institutional support and policy interventions to address agricultural vulnerabilities.
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