A popular video game about farming celebrates productivity and scale over sustainability and environmental care - and this is quietly shaping the idea of what a "good farmer" is. This is argued in a new study from the University of Gothenburg.
Thomas Daum, senior lecturer in environmental social science, has studied the video game Farming Simulator 22, which is played by millions of people around the world, including many farmers.
"Unlike other farming-themed video games, such as FarmVille and Stardew Valley, which are simplified and have more cartoonish graphics, Farming Simulator claims to be authentic. As the name suggests, it aims to be a simulation of farming," says Thomas Daum.
According to Giants Software, the game's developer, it has sold more than 30 million copies. About 25 percent of players have a connection to agriculture, and 10 percent are full-time farmers.
"Because the game strives to realistically mimic the life of a farmer, it also says a lot about modern agriculture. For example, what goals it should have and what kind of technology farmers are expected to use," says Thomas Daum.
Shaping norms and values
Previous research has shown that values and social norms are important in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. They can both drive and undermine change.
"Cultural artifacts such as books, music, videos, and increasingly - video games - shape these perceptions," says Thomas Daum.
Farming Simulator celebrates high yields, heavy machinery, and constant expansion. And according to Thomas Daum, this both reflects and shapes the players' ideas of what constitutes "good farming."
Productivity over sustainability
"The implicit goal is to acquire more land, and to invest in the latest big machinery. In the game's league, where teams play against each other, the goal is to harvest as much as possible and obtain the best types of machinery," says Thomas Daum.
In contrast, the game largely overlooks environmental feedback loops and pays only limited attention to more sustainable practices.
"No matter how players cultivate their fields, whether by using large, heavy tractors or overapplying agrochemicals, they cannot really cause damage to soil health or surrounding biodiversity," says Thomas Daum.
Player-generated mods can drive change
Video games like Farming Simulator could play a role in changing the perception of what a good farmer is, for example, by altering gameplay objectives to emphasize sustainability over productivity. To some extent, this is already happening, driven by the players themselves.
The game has a vibrant gaming community, and many players develop "mods" where they introduce new content such as new machinery. Many of these mods try to tweak gameplay mechanics.
For example, some mods introduce yield penalties for neglecting crop rotation or failing to plant cover crops - practices known to preserve soil health and help preserve biodiversity.
"This suggests that agricultural videogames like Farming Simulator could become powerful tools for imagining, testing, and experiencing alternative forms of 'good farming'. This can in turn lead to changing cultural notions of the 'good farmer', and in this way contribute to sustainable agriculture," says Thomas Daum.
Text: Linda Genborg
