Tinkering for soil care

This study discusses the concept of tinkering with agricultural equipment, framed within the philosophical realist concept of “technical fact” and subsequent agronomic literature. This concept emphasises the time-bound realisation of technical tendencies in agriculture and highlights the critical role of farmers’ actions, mediated by equipment, in shaping farming practices. Tinkering, characterised by small, ingenious adaptations to existing tools, contrasts with the structured engineering approach, and exemplifies the flexibility and creativity inherent in farmers’ practices. Through a three-phase study involving stakeholders in the French agricultural sector, we investigate how farmers adapt equipment through tinkering to meet the challenges of soil management in the face of climate change and socio-technical dynamics. The results show that tinkering allows farmers to bridge the gap between conceptual farming practices and their practical implementation, thus promoting innovation and adaptability. Tinkering is motivated by limited availability of adapted equipment and economic constraints, especially in the context of conservation agriculture. It contributes to sustainability by promoting resource efficiency, reducing costs and increasing farmers’ autonomy. However, tinkering also poses challenges, including potential safety issues and the need for technical evaluation before widespread adoption. The study highlights the importance of modular and adaptable equipment design to facilitate farmer-driven innovation. We conclude that tinkering is an important strategy for farmers to translate broader technical trends into specific, contextualised technical facts, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.