Presentation short abstract

In the UK, there is a schism between the anti-capitalist ideals of agroecology and how it is practiced on farms. In response, I investigate the possibilities and obstacles to actively composing a labour justice movement and how this is part of a broader anti-fascist ecosocialist political project.

Presentation long abstract

In the UK, there is a schism between agroecology's anti-capitalist ideals and how it is practiced on farms. Agroecological farms are reproducing highly exploitative capitalist labour relations as documented by trade union Solidarity Across Land Trades (2025). Rather than representing a political movement capable of displacing imperialist capitalist agriculture, agroecology represents a sub-sector within agriculture. Additionally, farm-business owners have largely become the main protagonist in shaping and characterising agroecology in the UK as a “movement”. In response, I call to attention the less romantic but nevertheless underattended issue of capitalist labour regimes and what can be learnt by recentering the farm worker and ecosocialist politics in UK agroecology.

Taking an ecosocialist class lens when examining labour injustices in the organisation of farm work can help advance socially just farming livelihoods and ultimately advance agroecology.

My study focuses on the labour intensive agroecological production of fruit and vegetables, guided by theories of feminist ecosyndicalism, critical agrarian movements, and working-class environmentalism. I pursue a three-folded empirical enquiry into:

-Understandings of class by farm workers (who I refer to as those working on a farm they do not own, for or without pay, including apprentices, cooperative workers, and those in horticultural education), how farm workers envision the future of agroecological jobs, farm workers' sense of agency in agroecology as a political project, and their interest in collective worker organising,

- Relational and supportive infrastructure (like unions), helping build and communicate labour justice,

- Experiences and obstacles of farms attempting to prefigure beyond-capitalist workplaces