Tractors and Trust
The Bumpy Road of Innovation
We humans are an interesting lot. We seek progress, yet we often respond to groundbreaking innovations with skepticism, sometimes hostility. History offers numerous examples. Coffee was once thought to cause sterility. Refrigeration was viewed as a dangerous novelty. These days, driverless cars and mobile banking face similar doubts. Innovations in agriculture, including genetic engineering and gene editing, continue to be hotly debated, despite their value in food production.
But why is that?
It's rarely about the technology itself; it's about what we humans fear losing.
Tractors: A Case Study in Resistance
Consider the tractor. Today, it's a symbol of modern agriculture, representing efficiency and productivity. However, the initial reaction to these machines was one of fear.
In 1892, John Froehlich invented the first gasoline-powered tractor in Iowa. However, by 1910, more than 24 million horses and mules were still employed on American farms for labor and transportation. It wasn't until 1954 that the number of tractors on farms exceeded that of horses and mules, and by 1960, these animals were no longer included in the U.S. Census.
The key takeaway is that despite the benefits of tractors, the adoption of mechanization took a while. Farmers, deeply connected to their land and traditional ways of life, likely viewed tractors as a threat for several reasons:
Loss of Identity: Farming has traditionally been a way of life tied to tradition, customs, and manual labor. Tractors challenged this identity by replacing the intimate connection with the land and animals with a mechanical process.
Economic Concerns: Tractors posed a risk to jobs. One machine could perform the work of many farmhands, leading to fears of unemployment and displacement.
Loss of Power: Research indicates that those with vested interests in existing products or who might lose power due to change are often the most vocal opponents of innovation. Blacksmiths who crafted horse-drawn plows and farmers proud of their horsemanship stood to lose as tractors became commonplace.
Fear of the Unknown: Early tractors were likely unreliable, costly, and difficult to operate. Farmers, accustomed to the predictability of horses, may have hesitated to invest in a technology that seemed more trouble than it was worth.
“I say stick to the horse, for he'll make you more money in the long run; besides, he will be hauling your tractors to the junk heap in a few years.” [link]
- excerpt from a letter by J. H. Ratcliff, published in The Nebraska Farmer, January 12, 1916.
The Parallels to Today
The story of the tractor serves as a powerful reminder that technological progress is not always a straightforward journey. It's frequently met with resistance, fear, and sometimes rejection. As we continue to develop new technologies, from GMOs to AI to gene editing, it's essential to remember the lessons of the past.
We need to:
Consider the human impact: Innovators should think proactively about the broader societal implications of their innovative products. How will this affect people's jobs, sense of purpose, and perceived connection to nature?
Communicate clearly and honestly: Address people's fears and concerns with, first, empathy (and follow with facts when we have license to do so).
Embrace change, but ANTICIPATE: While science says “we can!”, society may ask “but should we?” How can we proactively address potential concerns through engagement and communications?
Innovators in agriculture must recognize that resistance to new technologies or products often stems not from a rejection of the new, but from a fear of losing aspects of identity and lifestyle. New and innovative technologies can lead to feelings of disconnection. It's crucial for developers to approach their work holistically, by anticipating and understanding potential push back.
By learning from the past, innovators can navigate these concerns and foster a more inclusive vision for the future.
Thank you to Cami Ryan for allowing us to republish her post featuring some tractor history.
