Work

“In some ways it's our best quality and in others it's our downfall”: The need for more reflective use of the word ‘resilience’ to describe Australian farmers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ‘Resilience’ has become a buzzword in various sectors in Australia and beyond. Its widespread use in policy discussions reflects its perceived importance in relation to addressing challenges such as mental health and drought management. This research highlights the overuse of the term ‘resilience’ and the pressures that its use places on individual farmers, using findings from thematic analysis of focus groups and surveys conducted with women involved in farming businesses in Australia together with analysis of scholarly literature and policy documents. While resilience is often invoked to describe the ability to adapt to external challenges such as natural disaster and market fluctuations, our participants were concerned that this framing minimizes the need for systemic support, an outcome that was mirrored in the themes in the scholarly literature and the policy trends. The results suggest that while adaptability is essential, the current focus on ‘resilience’ overlooks the structural changes and collective support that will be necessary for the long-term sustainability of farming communities in increasingly unpredictable economic and natural climates.

Source: Journal of Rural Studies

DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104057

Authors: Emily A. Buddle, Linda Courtenay Botterill, Rachel A. Ankeny

Institutions: Adelaide University, The University of Adelaide, Australian National University, Wageningen University & Research

Language: English

Topic: Rural development and sustainability

Subfield: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,090