Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists
Series Agriculture, Silviculture and Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Online ISSN 2344 – 2085
Volume 15, Number 2/2026
5
RETHINKING THE FIELD: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF
INTERNATIONAL WORK SAFETY INTERVENTIONS AND
LOCAL BEST PRACTICES FOR NEXT-GENERATION
FARMERS IN ROMANIA
Mirela STANCIU
1
, M
ihai-Radu
POP
2
,
Agatha POPESCU
3
Abstract
.
Contextual background:
Agriculture is one of the most dangerous economic
sectors
worldwide,
where
traditional
top-down
training
in
occupational
safety
consistently fails to attract and engage the new generation of digital native farmers. To
ensure
sustainable
generational
renewal,
occupational
safety
and
health
(OSH)
education in agriculture must move from rigid compliance with regulations to dynamic
interventions, capable of changing behaviours and reshaping the cultural habitus of the
community.
Objective:
this mixed-method study synthesizes the global landscape of safety
education
interventions
dedicated
to
the
new
generation
of
farmers,
assesses
contemporary European benchmarks, and situates these findings in the specific socio-
economic
context
of
higher
agricultural
education
in
Romania.
Methodology:
a
systematic literature review was conducted in the main academic databases, targeting
occupational safety educational interventions, published between 2021 and 2026. The
data
were
triangulated
with
the
communication
kits
and
European
good
practices
identified within the SafeHabitus project (Horizon Europe), covering case studies from
various European countries. To validate the international benchmarks at the local level, a
co-design workshop based on the design thinking methodology was organized with
agronomy students from Romania. Occupational risks were mapped and interventions
were outlined for vegetable and livestock farms.
Results:
the global synthesis reveals a
major paradigm shift towards the use of immersive technologies (virtual/augmented
reality)
and
micro-learning.
The
comparative
analysis
with
the
SafeHabitus
model
highlighted successful European interventions, such as AI-enabled reversing cameras and
person
detection
(Germany),
video
competitions
for
young
farmers
(Finland)
and
integrated safety toolkits (Czech Republic). The design thinking workshop organized in
1
Prof., PhD, Eng. Habil., ” Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania, Faculty of Agricultural
Sciences,
Food
Industry
and
Environmental
Protection,
Associate
Member
of
Academy
of
Romanian Scientists,
(E-mail: mirela.stanciu@ulbsibiu.ro).
2
Assist. Prof., PhD, Eng. ” Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania, Faculty of Agricultural
Sciences,
Food
Industry
and
Environmental
Protection,
Romania
(E-
mail:
mihai.pop@ulbsibiu.ro
).
3
Prof., PhD., Eng. Ec.,
University of Agronomic Sciences & Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest,
Romania, Faculty of Management and Rural Economy, Full member of Academy of Romanian
Scientists, Corresponding member of the "Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisesti" Academy of Agricultural
and Forestry Sciences”, (E-mail: agatha_popescu@yahoo.com)
6
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
Romania aimed to deeply understand the real context of farms (plants and animals), map
work risks, identify prevention measures (technical, organizational, behavioural and
training) and include these topics in the curricula of the relevant disciplines, with the
recommendation
of
using
AI
tools
for
agriculture
(Agri-AI),
digital
stories,
etc.
Conclusions:
rethinking
education
on
agricultural
safety
requires
going
beyond
universal institutional models. To protect the future agricultural workforce, policymakers
and
universities
must
integrate
co-designed,
technology-based,
and
peer-validated
training models that transform occupational safety from a regulatory burden into a core
professional value for the next generation of farmers.
Keywords
:
o
ccupational
safety
and
health
(osh),
farm
safety
culture,
safehabitus,
agricultural students, educational interventions, behavioural change, narrative review,
design thinking
DOI
10.56082/annalsarsciagri.2026.2.5
1.
Introduction
Agriculture stands at a critical crossroads, marked by a profound contradiction. While
it is celebrated as the cornerstone of global food security and a driver of technological
innovation, it remains stubbornly classified as one of the most hazardous economic
sectors worldwide
[2; 6; 21; 29]
. Every year, millions of agricultural workers suffer
from severe occupational injuries, chronic illnesses, and fatal accidents, carrying a
human and economic toll that surpasses most other industries. The quality of life of
farmers is influenced by numerous factors. Occupational stress and isolation directly
and proportionally influence their well-being
[1]
.
Generational
renewal
is
crucial
for
European
agriculture
[5].
In
2025,
the
European Congress for Generational Renewal at European Level took place in
Poznan (Poland). In this context, agriculture is an essential sector, which produces
food and must guarantee environmental and territorial security. Farmers are the
depositories of national culture.
Despite
decades
of
regulatory
efforts
and
institutional
guidelines,
farm-related
casualty rates have plateaued rather than plummeted. This persistent stagnation
signals a systemic failure: traditional, top-down occupational safety and health (OSH)
education is failing to connect with those who need it most.
This educational gap becomes a structural crisis when looking at the next generation
of farmers. Generational renewal is vital for the survival of rural economies, yet
young farmers and agricultural students are entering a sector that looks vastly
different from that of their parents. Today’s young farmers navigate an increasingly
digitized,
highly
mechanized,
and
climate-stressed
environment,
which
requires
professional skills adapted to current needs, especially in the context of the decreasing
attractiveness of agricultural jobs [3; 10; 13; 20; 24; 30]. They are expected to be
tech-savvy entrepreneurs, yet they are often trained using obsolete pedagogical
frameworks rooted in passive, compliance-based learning. Traditional safety lectures
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
7
and generic manuals fail to trigger actual behavioral change, leaving next-generation
agricultural workers exposed to high-risk environments with psychological and
behavioral frameworks unsuited for modern farm safety.
To overcome this inertia, international research is undergoing a paradigm shift,
moving from static safety instruction toward dynamic, co-designed, and behavior-
changing interventions [7]. Central to this global shift is the understanding that
safety is not just a set of rules to be memorized, but a cultural habitus—a deeply
ingrained set of practices, perceptions, and attitudes. At the forefront of this
European movement is the EU Horizon Europe SafeHabitus Project (2022–2026).
SafeHabitus focuses on redefining agricultural safety by shifting the focus toward
the
"habitus"
of
farming
communities,
employing
multi-actor
approaches,
Communities of Practice (CoPs), and digital storytelling to foster a sustainable
and proactive safety culture from the ground up [4; 7].
However, translating international best practices and European frameworks into
national contexts remains a complex challenge, particularly in Eastern European
countries like Romania. Romanian agriculture features a unique socio-economic
landscape, characterized by a sharp division between small-scale subsistence
farms
and
large,
highly
technological
agricultural
enterprises.
For
Romanian
agricultural students—the future managers and operators of these farms—safety
education must be localized, engaging, and culturally relevant. To bridge the gap
between
global
frameworks
and
local
realities,
this
study
supplements
a
comprehensive literature review with a practical, bottom-up approach: a co-design
workshop
utilizing
design
thinking
methodology
conducted
with
Romanian
agricultural students. By engaging students as active creators rather than passive
recipients,
this
workshop
aimed
to
prototype
tailored
safety
communication
strategies that resonate with their specific generational and regional needs.
Therefore,
this
narrative
review
aims
to
achieve
a
dual
objective.
First,
it
synthesizes
global
literature
published
between
2021
and
2026
to
map
out
international best practices and emerging methodologies in occupational safety
education for next-generation farmers. Second, it contextualizes these global
trends through the lens of the SafeHabitus project and evaluates how innovative
co-design methodologies, such as design thinking, can be successfully deployed to
reshape
safety
culture
among
young
agricultural
professionals
in
Romania.
Ultimately,
this
paper
argues
for
a
fundamental
"rethinking
of
the
field,"
demonstrating that protecting the future agricultural workforce requires moving
beyond regulatory compliance and toward collaborative, technology-driven, and
student-centred safety education.
2.
Materials and Methods
8
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
To
provide
a
comprehensive
and
actionable
framework
for
next-generation
agricultural
safety,
this
study
employs
a
mixed-methodological
approach.
It
integrates a systematic literature search of global educational interventions, an
analysis of contemporary European communication models from the Horizon
Europe
SafeHabitus
Project,
and
primary
qualitative
data
gathered
from
a
localized co-design workshop with Romanian agricultural students. By combining
macro-level global trends with micro-level student insights, this methodology
ensures both academic rigor and practical relevance.
Figure 1.
Research methodology
2.1.
Literature Search Strategy (2021–2026)
A systematic literature search was conducted to map the global landscape of
occupational safety education tailored for the next generation of farmers.
Databases & Timeline: Searches were executed across Web of Science and
Scopus,
restricting
results
to
peer-reviewed
articles,
review
papers,
and
conference proceedings published between January 2021 and December 2026.
Search
Strings:
Keywords
and
Boolean
operators
included
combinations
of:
("agricultural education" OR "safety training" OR "OSH intervention") AND
("young farmers" OR "next-generation" OR "agricultural students") AND ("injury
prevention" OR "safety culture")
.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Studies were included if they explicitly evaluated
educational or communicative interventions aimed at farmers under 40, vocational
students,
or
youth
in
rural
environments.
General
agricultural
safety
papers
lacking a distinct generational, educational, or technological intervention focus
were excluded.
2.2.
The SafeHabitus Framework Analysis
Methodology
Overview
1.Global Review
(2021-2026)
Databases: WoS, Scopus
Focus: Tech&Curricula
2. European Benchmarking
-SafeHabitus Project
-Storytelling, CoP and Good
Practices
3. Local Co-Design
- Design thinking with
agricultural Romanian students
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
9
To anchor the global literature within current European policy and research
trajectories, this review analyzes data, communication toolkits, and milestone
reports generated by the EU Horizon Europe SafeHabitus Project (2022–2026).
Focus of Analysis: The analysis specifically evaluated the project’s multi-actor
approach, focusing on how regional Communities of Practice (CoPs) function as
facilitators for behavioral change (
shifting the habitus
).
Data
Extraction:
Special
attention
was
given
to
the
efficiency
of
digital
storytelling—such
as
testimonial
videos
and
peer-led
narrative
campaigns
featuring farm accident survivors—as a pedagogical tool to trigger emotional
resonance and risk awareness among younger demographics. The best practice
models identified in the countries participating in the project were also analyzed.
2.3.
Co-Design
Workshop
Design:
A
Multi-Sectorial
Design
Thinking
Approach
To validate international findings within a specific local context, a hands-on co-
design workshop was conducted with Romanian agricultural students (21 Avril
2026). The primary objective was to identify sector-specific occupational risks
across the
distinct farming types (vegetable and livestock farms) —and to
identify user-centric educational interventions capable of mitigating these hazards.
In this initial phase, students stepped into the shoes of farm workers and managers
to
understand
their
daily
routines,
psychological
pressures,
and
physical
environments. Vegetable Farms Group: Analyzed the routines of workers dealing
with intense seasonal pressures, repetitive manual tasks, and chemical exposure
(pesticides/fertilizers). They mapped out the "day-in-the-life" of a tractor operator
and
a
greenhouse
worker.
Livestock
Farms
Group:
Focused
on
the
unpredictability
of
animal
behavior,
large
livestock
handling,
and
prolonged
exposure to biohazards (zoonotic diseases, dust, gases like ammonia).
During the brainstorming session, students shifted from problem-mapping to
solution-generation.
Moving
away
from
traditional
regulatory
manuals,
they
prioritized communication and education channels that resonate with Gen Z and
millennial farmers. Ideas were filtered based on feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and
potential for behavioral change (
shifting the habitus
).
The identified prevention measures (technical, organizational, behavioral and
training) for the 2 types of farms were also based on their practical experience
from the family farms they come from. The possibility of including the identified
risks and prevention measures in the subject of specialty discipline sheets was
analyzed, with an emphasis on the use of AI tools for agriculture (Agri-AI),
digital stories and digital technology.
3.
Results and Disscutions
10
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
3.1.
Global Trends in Next-Gen Agricultural Safety Education
The global agricultural sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by
automation,
precision
farming,
and
generational
turnover.
Consequently,
the
literature published between 2021 and 2026 reveals that traditional, passive safety
training methods—such as lectures, textbook reading, and static safety signs—are
rapidly losing relevance. To engage a generation of digitally native farmers (Gen
Z
and
Millennials),
international
safety
interventions
have
pivoted
toward
experiential learning, digital integration, and proactive behavioral design. This
chapter synthesizes these global trends, focusing on technological innovations and
the restructuring of formal and informal educational frameworks.
3.1.1.
Technological and Digital Interventions
The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into agricultural practices [16; 33],
and in safety training [34] represents the most significant trend in recent years.
Rather than treating safety as an abstract concept, modern interventions leverage
immersive technology to simulate high-risk environments without exposing young
farmers to actual physical danger.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Immersive Simulations:
Between 2021 and 2026, VR
has emerged as a gold standard for heavy machinery training. Studies from North
America
and
Western
Europe
demonstrate
that
VR
simulations
of
tractor
rollovers,
Power
Take-Off
(PTO)
entanglement,
and
blind-spot
navigation
significantly improve hazard recognition. Young farmers trained via VR exhibit
faster reaction times and better risk-mitigation decisions in real-world scenarios
compared to those trained via traditional slideshows [25].
Digital
Gamification
and
Mobile
Micro-Learning:
Recognizing
the
short
attention spans and mobile-first habits of the next generation, researchers have
increasingly developed gamified safety applications [14; 23]. These interventions
break down complex occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations into "bite-
sized" challenges, quizzes, and rewards. Micro-learning modules [32] delivered
via smartphones allow young workers to access safety protocols directly in the
field—such as quick-response (QR) codes attached to chemical storage units that
trigger short, animated safety videos.
Augmented Reality (AR) on the Farm:
Emerging literature highlights the use of
AR to overlay real-time safety hazard data onto physical equipment [15]. For
instance, using smart glasses or mobile screens, agricultural students can view
safe operational angles while driving machinery on slopes or receive immediate
visual alerts regarding missing protective guards.
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
11
3.1.2.
Formal
vs.
Informal
Curricula:
Shifting
from
Compliance
to
Culture
Beyond technology, global trends indicate a systemic shift in
how
and
when
safety
education is delivered (Table 1). The literature emphasizes that waiting until an
individual
becomes
an
adult
farm
operator
is
often
too
late
to
alter
deeply
ingrained, risky habits.
Table 1 Where and when is farm safety training delivered?
Educational Dimension
Traditional Aproach (pre
2021)
Modern Global Trends
(2021-2026)
Primary Focus
Regulatory compliance &
legal leability
Proactiv risk culture &
behavioural change
Delivery Method
Sporadic, isolated safety
seminars
Continuous integration into
core agricultural curricula
Target Audience
Adults farmers owners and
operators
Agricultural students rural
youth, and family members
Pedagogy
Top-down institutional
guidelines
Peer-to-peer monitoring and
active co-design
Source: designed base on literature
3.1.3.
Mainstreaming OSH into Higher and Vocational Education:
A
critical
trend
is
the
embedding
of
OSH
directly
into
core
agronomy,
engineering, and business curricula in agricultural universities. Instead of safety
being an isolated, one-off seminar, it is treated as an essential component of
professional
operational
excellence.
Global
data
shows
that
institutions
incorporating safety into daily laboratory and field exercises produce graduates
who inherently prioritize risk assessment in their future managerial roles.
3.1.4.
Informal Peer-Led and Community-Driven Programs:
Formal schooling alone is insufficient, especially in family-farming ecosystems
where
informal
training
dominates.
Recent
interventions
leverage
peer-led
networks,
social
media
campaigns
(e.g.,
safety
challenges
on
TikTok
or
Instagram), and rural youth organizations (such as 4-H in the US [22] or Macra na
Feirme in Ireland [18]. These programs utilize the social dynamics of young
communities to de-stigmatize the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and
challenge the traditional "macho" culture of agriculture that often associates risk-
taking with professional competence.
In conclusion, the global landscape between 2021 and 2026 highlights that the
most
successful
safety
interventions
for
the
next
generation
are
interactive,
digitally enhanced, and culturally integrated. However, a major gap identified in
the global literature is the lack of localization—many advanced technological
tools are designed for high-income countries, leaving a critical need to adapt these
trends to specific regional contexts, such as Eastern Europe.
12
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
3.2.
European Benchmarks: The SafeHabitus Approach
While global trends highlight the rapid evolution of digital and pedagogical tools,
implementing these innovations within the complex socio-economic fabric of
European agriculture requires a structured, multi-actor framework. Between 2022
and
2026,
the
EU
Horizon
Europe
SafeHabitus
Project
has
emerged
as
the
definitive benchmark for rethinking agricultural safety across the European Union
[26]. Moving beyond traditional regulatory enforcement, SafeHabitus targets the
underlying social and cultural determinants of risk-taking
[27]. This chapter
explores
how
this
European
initiative
operationalizes
behavioral
change
and
shapes peer-to-peer communication models tailored for the next generation of
farmers.
3.2.1.
Shifting the Habitus: From Risk Acceptance to Proactive Safety
The core philosophy of the
SafeHabitus project
is that farm safety cannot be
achieved by top-down decrees alone; it requires transforming the subconscious,
deeply ingrained cultural habits of farming communities [21; 26]. Historically, the
agricultural
"habitus"
has
normalized
high-risk
behaviors,
equating
unsafe
practices with professional endurance, experience, or economic efficiency.
The Multi-Actor Approach:
SafeHabitus disrupts this paradigm by bringing
together
researchers,
farmers,
farm
advisory
services,
trade
unions,
and
agricultural students [26]. This ensures that safety interventions are not designed
in academic isolation but are co-created with the end-users who understand the
practical realities of daily farm work.
Communities of Practice (CoPs):
A cornerstone of the project’s success is the
deployment of regional
Communities of Practice (CoPs)
across various EU
member states [27]. These CoPs act as localized multi-stakeholder hubs where
young farmers, students and, various stakeholders can openly discuss "near-
misses,"
identify
hazardous
blind
spots
in
their
specific
regions,
and
collaboratively
design
practical,
everyday
safety
solutions.
This
shifts
the
perception of safety from an external regulatory burden into a self-imposed, peer-
validated professional standard.
3.2.2.
Peer-to-Peer Networks and Digital Storytelling
The SafeHabitus project recognizes that traditional, text-heavy safety brochures
carry little weight with next-generation farmers [26]. Consequently, the initiative
has pioneered communication models driven by emotional resonance, digital
media, and horizontal peer influence.
Digital
Storytelling:
One
of
the
most
effective
interventions
validated
by
SafeHabitus is the use of
digital storytelling
[7]. This methodology involves
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
13
producing high-impact, short-form video testimonials featuring farm accident
survivors, injured workers, or young farmers who experienced life-altering near-
misses. Unlike statistical data or dry manuals, these narratives generate deep
emotional engagement among agricultural students, breaking through the youthful
illusion of invulnerability.
Horizontal
Communication
via
Social
Media:
By
leveraging
peer-to-peer
networks, SafeHabitus bypasses traditional top-down institutional messaging [27].
Young farmers within the CoPs share these digital stories and micro-learning
safety tips through localized social media networks (e.g., WhatsApp groups,
TikTok, and Instagram). When a young peer validates a safe practice—such as
always checking the PTO shaft shield or wearing proper respiratory masks in
dusty silos—it carries significantly higher credibility and social acceptance than
an institutional warning.
In summary, the SafeHabitus project provides a powerful European blueprint
showing
that
effective
safety
education
must
be
participatory,
emotionally
engaging, and peer-driven
[7]. However, the successful adoption of this model
across diverse EU regions relies heavily on local contextualization. This sets the
stage for analyzing how these European benchmarks translate into the specific
realities of higher agricultural education in Eastern Europe.
3.2.3.
Best practices at the international level
The SafeHabitus Project has developed an infographic, structured around six main
pillars of European good practices for farm safety (Table 2).
Table 2
Main pillars of European good practices for farm safety
Pillars
Good Practices Examples
1. Awareness
Raising
AgriKids™ (Ireland):
Targeted initiatives to increase farm safety risk
awareness specifically among children.
Young
Farmer
Safety
Video
Contest
(Finland):
Engaging
media
competitions focused on protecting farmers, workers, and livestock.
Podcasts & Blogs (Slovakia):
Leveraging modern digital media channels
to dynamically change traditional farm safety culture.
Transforming a Dairy Farm (Estonia):
Pilot projects demonstrating the
intersection between farmer quality of life and business viability.
2. Advisory
Service
Certified
Farm
Safety
Advisors
(Lithuania):
Embedding
certified
occupational
safety
experts
directly
into
existing
agricultural
advisory
services.
3. Education
and Training
Early Education (Poland):
Farm safety education programs tailored for
children and rural youth.
Complete
Farm
Safety
Toolkit
(Czech
Republic):
Comprehensive
packages
including
integrated
training,
campaigns,
competitions,
checklists, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
14
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
Workforce & Livestock Protection (Slovakia):
Educational programs
designed to protect farmers, workers, and animals simultaneously.
Train-the-Trainer
for
Tractor
Safety
(Ireland/Italy):
Building
peer
networks
of
trainers
to
rapidly
scale
and
share
machinery
safety
knowledge.
Subsidized
Driver
Safety
Training
(Belgium):
Providing
affordable
courses for safer operating and driving of heavy farm vehicles.
4. Technical
Improvement
Retrofitting
Old
Tractor
Steps
(Germany):
Practical
and
low-cost
technical adjustments to prevent slips, trips, and fall injuries from older
machinery.
AI
Reversing
Cameras
with
Person
Detection
(Poland):
Utilizing
artificial
intelligence-driven
computer
vision
to
detect
bystanders
and
prevent child accidents around heavy vehicles.
5. Action Plan
Farm Machinery Safety Action Plan (Spain):
Strategic improvements
encompassing
everything
from
preventative
maintenance
to
operator
training.
Accident Prevention Through Maintenance (Sweden):
Concrete action
plans focused on the structured maintenance of machinery, tools, and farm
buildings.
6. Risk
Management
Farm
Risk
Assessment
-
DUERP
(France):
A
formalized
legal
requirement for all operating farms to conduct structured risk assessments.
Soruce: design by SaheHabitus livrables
[28]
3.3.
Localizing the Solutions: Insights from the Romanian Student
Workshop
While the European benchmarks identified by the SafeHabitus project offer robust
frameworks, their success depends on successful localization. To bridge the gap
between European macro-policies and the micro-level realities of Eastern Europe,
this chapter presents the qualitative results of the design thinking (DT) co-design
workshop conducted with Romanian agricultural students.
Filho et al (2024) shows that DT is used to promote skills, knowledge and
pedagogical approaches, with a focus on integrating sustainability principles [8].
The findings are structured by farm type—vegetable or livestock—highlighting
how local youth perceive occupational risks and how they prototype targeted
interventions by adapting international best practices.
Students analyzing the vegetable sector focused heavily on the seasonal intensity
of
crop
production,
high-stress
harvest
windows,
and
long
hours
operating
machinery. Identified Risks: The primary hazards identified were tractor rollovers
on uneven terrain, Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft entanglement due to missing
protective shields, and acute chemical exposure during pesticide spraying. Visual
communication
for
safety
at
work
with
agricultural
machinery
uses
various
standardized pictograms, without them being effective for all users [11; 12].
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
15
Students noted that in Romania, the coexistence of aging machinery alongside
modern, computer-driven tractors creates a dual safety challenge.
The group assigned to animal production explored the volatile nature of livestock
handling and the specific biohazards present in modern and traditional barns.
Identified Risks: Key risks included crushing, kicking, or pinning injuries inflicted
by large livestock (bovine and equine), respiratory disorders caused by prolonged
inhalation of dust and ammonia gases in poorly ventilated spaces, and needle-stick
injuries during mass veterinary interventions.
Furthermore, localized evidence from Romanian sheep husbandry indicates that
pastoral workforces suffer heavily from excessive hours, lack of school-based
safety education, and unique musculoskeletal vulnerabilities related to lifestyle
and arduous conditions [31].
During
three
hours,
students
participating
in
the
workshop
debated
the
real
context of farms (vegetables and animals), identified the main categories of work
risks
(by
technological
links),
identified
prevention
measures
(technical,
organizational, behavioral and training). The young people argued for the need to
include these topics in the syllabi of the relevant disciplines and proposed the use
of AI tools for agriculture (Agri-AI), digital stories and telephone applications.
Agricultural practices that emphasize technology and innovative applications,
such as digital agriculture and precision agriculture, represent a form of attraction
for young farmers [17].
Design Thinking transforms young people from passive recipients into architects
of their own safety. The current generation (Gen Z) rejects rigid guidelines; by
involving them in the design thinking process we ensured that the resulting
solutions could be on the channel and in the format they use daily.
Cross-Analysis: Gen Z Preferences vs. Institutional Frameworks
The workshop revealed a profound disconnect between how traditional Romanian
regulatory
frameworks
communicate
safety
and
how
the
next
generation
of
agricultural professionals consumes information (Table 3).
Table 3
Benchmark alignment of information on farm safety
Dimension
Romanian Regulatory Norms
(Traditional)
Workshop Insight
Benchmarkt
Alignment
Medium
text- heavy manuals, physical
sign sheets
smartphone, short
videos
podcasts, blogs, video
contents
Tone
punitive, compliance - driven,
rigide
peer-driven, gamified,
narrative based
digital storytelling,
CoPs
Focus
post-accident liability allocation
pre-task micro-
learning, and habit
shift
active risk
management
Source: own design
16
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
The insights generated from the Romanian design thinking workshop prove that
next-generation agricultural workers do not lack safety awareness; rather, they
lack
interactive, accessible, and culturally synchronized training tools
. By co-
designing solutions that utilize micro-learning, gamification, and peer validation,
these students successfully demonstrated how European best practices can be
converted into viable, low-cost local interventions.
4.
Conclusions
Protecting
the
future
of
agriculture
requires
an
immediate
and
fundamental
"rethinking
of
the
field"
regarding
occupational
safety
and
health
(OSH)
education. This study has demonstrated that while agriculture remains one of the
world's most hazardous sectors, traditional, top-down regulatory frameworks fail
to
trigger
genuine
behavioural
change
among
next-generation
farmers.
The
synthesis of global literature (2021–2026) highlights a universal shift toward
immersive
technologies,
digital
gamification,
and
experiential
learning.
By
integrating the pioneering European models developed within the SafeHabitus
Project, this paper illustrates that safety must be cultivated as a social
habitus
—a
peer-validated, deeply ingrained cultural value—rather than a passive bureaucratic
obligation.
The
co-design
workshop
conducted
with
Romanian
agricultural
students
successfully localized these global trends. The co-creation workshop held with
Romanian students in the agricultural field successfully adapted these global
trends to the local context. Faced with the specific risks inherent in vegetable
farming and livestock-rearing ecosystems, the students did not devise rigid sets of
rules; instead, they emphasized the need for user-centric digital solutions—such
as AI-based agricultural tools, storytelling techniques, and mobile applications—
tailored
to
the
information
ecosystem
of
Generation
Z
and
Millennials.
Ultimately,
this
narrative
analysis
demonstrates
that
future
farmers
are
not
indifferent
to
professional
risks.
On
the
contrary,
they
require
multimodal
educational frameworks—leveraging technology and peer-led facilitation—that
align with their advanced digital skills.
Bridging the gap between European benchmarks and local agro-economic realities
is the only way to ensure a secure and sustainable generational renewal within
rural economies.. Ultimately, this narrative review proves that next-generation
farmers are not indifferent to occupational risks. Rather, they require multi-modal,
tech-driven, and peer-led educational frameworks that align with their digital
fluency. Bridging the gap between advanced European benchmarks and local
agro-economic
realities
is
the
only
pathway
to
ensuring
a
safe,
sustainable
generational renewal in rural economies.
Policy Recommendations: To successfully translate these research insights into
tangible
systemic
changes,
policy-makers,
educational
institutions,
and
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
17
agricultural
stakeholders
in
Romania
and
broader
Eastern
Europe
should
implement the following targeted actions:
1.
Modernize Vocational and Higher Agricultural Curricula:
Educational
institutions must move away from isolated, theory-heavy OSH seminars.
Universities and agricultural high schools should embed safety training
directly
into
core
practical
modules
(e.g.,
agronomy,
agricultural
engineering).
Thus,
preparing
students
for
OSH
must
be
a
core
competency
in
all
agricultural
education
programs,
and
be
based
on
practical
training.
[9;
19].
Traditional
lectures
should
be
replaced
or
augmented with hands-on, high-impact experiential learning tools, such as
the
peer-designed
Virtual
Reality
livestock
simulators
or
Augmented
Reality machinery checklists.
2.
Institutionalize
"Train-the-Trainer"
and
Peer-Led
Networks:
Drawing
inspiration
from
the
SafeHabitus
Communities
of
Practice
(CoPs)
and
Irish-Italian
tractor
safety
frameworks
,
national
labour
inspectorates
and
agricultural
ministries
should
fund
peer-led
safety
networks [26, 27, 28]. Training senior agricultural students and young
farmers to become certified safety mentors creates a horizontal, highly
credible
communication
channel
that
effectively
de-stigmatizes
safety
protocols within rural youth communities.
3.
Launch National Digital Storytelling and Micro-Learning Campaigns:
Government bodies, in collaboration with agricultural associations, should
sponsor digital media campaigns modeled after the
Finnish young farmer
video contests
and
Slovakian safety blogs
[7; 28]. Funding should be
directed toward developing short-form, localized video content—featuring
real-life near-miss testimonials from accident survivors—and deploying
automated micro-learning bots (via platforms like WhatsApp or TikTok)
to
deliver
context-aware
safety
alerts
directly
to
young
farmers'
smartphones during peak operational seasons.
4.
Subsidize Safety Tech Adaptations for Small-Scale and Family Farms:
To
combat
the
severe
dual-economy
divide
in
Romanian
agriculture,
policy-makers should introduce dedicated European or national subsidies.
These
financial
grants
should
help
small-scale
family
operations
and
younger
start-up
farmers
adopt
low-cost,
high-impact
technological
upgrades,
such
as
tractor
step
retrofitting
kits
or
AI-driven
reversing
cameras, ensuring that advanced safety technology does not remain an
exclusive privilege of large-scale corporate enterprises.
Limitations of the Study
As a narrative review supplemented by a singular co-design workshop, this study
has inherent limitations. The qualitative insights are derived from a specific cohort
18
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
of university agronomical students, who may possess higher digital literacy and
baseline safety awareness than the broader population of rural youth or vocational
school
students
in
Romania.
Future
research
should
focus
on
conducting
empirical, longitudinal studies to effiiciency of digital applications when deployed
across diverse, real-world commercial and family farms over multi-year periods.
Acknowledgements
The authors express their gratitude to SafeHabitus CoP from Romania. This
research was conducted as part of the project ”Strengthening Farm Health and
Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems”(SafeHabitus – GA 101084270), funded
under Horizon Europe.
R E F E R E N C E S
[1]
Brennan,
M.,
Hennessy,
T.,
Dillon,
E.,
Meredith,
D.,
Putting
social
into
agricultural
sustainability:
Integrating
assessments
of
quality
of
life
and
wellbeing
into
farm
sustainability
indicators.
Sociologia
Ruralis.
63,
629–660.
https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12417Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
2021.
[2]
Carvajal-Suárez,
M.,
Bietresato,
M.,
Gubiani,
R.,
Ramos,
A.
K.,
Work-Related
Musculoskeletal Pain and Discomfort Among Livestock Workers: Evidence from the
Friuli-Venezia
Giulia
Region
of
Italy,
Safety,
12(3),
61.
https://doi.org/10.3390/safety12030061
2026.
[3]
Coman, C.N., Panait, R., Buzatu, C.S., Smedescu, C.A., Patrarchioiu, N.F., Tudor, V.C., ,
Analysis of the agricultural labour force in terms of the area cultivated with the main crops
in
Romania,
during
the
period
2018-2022,
Scientific
Papers.
Series
"Management,
Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24(2), 357-366. 2024.
[4]
Croitoru, A., Capraru, M., Understanding the causes and consequences of farm accidents in
Romania: Qualitative Insights and Pathways to Solutions.
European CAP Network Practice
Abstracts- Research and Innovation.
https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/projects/practice-
abstracts/understanding-causes-and-consequences-farm-accidents-romania_en
2025.
[5]
Curtin, M., Murphy, C., Woods, U., Cross, C., Gender and farming intentions: Insights
from
Ireland's
agricultural
students,
Journal
of
Rural
Studies.
vol.
126,
104274.
10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104274
2026.
[6]
Ekmekci M, Yaman S., Occupational health and safety among farmers: a comprehensive
study in Central Anatolia, Turkey, BMC Public Health, 24(1): 2732. doi: 10.1186/s12889-
024-20249-7. PMID: 39379899; PMCID: PMC11460113. 2024.
[7]
European CAP Network, SafeHabitus: Strengthening the farm safety and health knowledge
and
innovation
system
in
Europe,
European
Commission.
https://eu-cap-
network.ec.europa.eu/projects/safehabitus-strengthening-farm-safety-and-health-
knowledge-and-innovation-system-europe_en
2026.
[8]
Filho, W.L., Schmidberger, Sharifi, A., Ruiz Vargas, V., Rampasso I.,S., Dibbern, T.,
Liakh, O., Aina, Y.A., Viera Trevisan,
L., Forh Mbah, M., Anholon, R., Kozlova, V.,
Rethinking the Field: A Narrative Review of International Work Safety
Interventions and Local best Practices for Next-Generation Farmers in Romania
19
2024, Design thinking for sustainable development: A bibliometric analysis and case study
research,
Journal
of
Cleaner
Production,
vol.
455,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142285
. 2024.
[9]
Firnhaber, J.,
Meredith, D., Leppälä, L.,
Rautiainen, R., Van Doorn, D., Sweeney, S.,
McNamara, J.,
Farm health and safety in the EU: Needs, challenges and opportunities,
SafeHabitus Deliverable 3.3
(Version 1.0).
https://zenodo.org/records/18499806
2025.
[10]
Grama, A.V., Batrîna, S.L., Adaptation of the farmers' skills to the requirements of the
future
agriculture,
Scientific
Papers.
Series
"Management,
Economic
Engineering
in
Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24(2), 485-494. 2024.
[11]
Gungor, Celal, Evaluating the impact of safety pictogram training on comprehension scores
and
knowledge
retention
among
engineering
students,
Journal
of
Safety
Science
and
Resilience, 5(3), 317-329,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnlssr.2024.05.003
. 2024.
[12]
Hazneci, E., Vigoroso, L., Caffaro, F., Öztekin, Y.B., Cavallo, E., Safety pictograms on
agricultural machinery: A survey among Turkish users to investigate comprehension and
comparison
with
previous
studies,
Journal
of
Safety
Research,
vol.
97,
683-695,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2026.04.011
. 2026.
[13]
Ionitescu, S., Popescu, A., Gudanescu, N.L., Cristea, A., Digitalization and agriculture -
impact on human resources in the European Union and Romania, Scientific Papers. Series
"Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development", Vol. 23(3),
361-372. 2023.
[14]
Kalogiannakis, M., Papadakis, S., Zourmpakis, A.I., Gamification in science education: A
systematic
review
of
the
literature,
Education
Sciences,
11(1),
Article
22.
https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11010022
. 2021.
[15]
Lampropoulos, G., Fernández-Arias, P., Antón-Sancho, Á., Vergara, D., 2024, Examining
the Role of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Safety Training,
Electronics,
13(19),
3952.
https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13193952
. 2024.
[16]
Leher,
Computer
Vision
in
Agriculture
for
Smart
Farming
and
Productivity.
https://www.leher.ag/blog/computer-vision-agriculture-smart-farming-productivity
2024.
[17]
Licciardo,
F.,
Henke,
R.,
Piras,
F.,
Zanetti,
B.,
The
Setting-Up
Measure
to
Support
Generational Renewal in Agriculture: The Italian Experience,
World,
5
(4), 1130-1147.
https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040057
. 2024.
[18]
Macra
Organisation,
Your
Club,
Your
People,
(accesed
on
20
August
2026)
https://macra.ie/pages/about
2026.
[19]
Makulska, J., Cupiał, M., Migdał, W., Tombarkiewicz B., Understanding the causes and
consequences of farm health and safety challenges in Polish agriculture. European CAP
Network
Practice
Abstract
–
Research
and
Innovations.
https://eu-cap-
network.ec.europa.eu/projects/practice-abstracts/understanding-causes-and-consequences-
farm-health-and-safety-0_en
2025.
[20]
Marcuta, L., Pacurar, I., Popescu, A., Marcuta, A., Study on the perception of graduates
regarding the attractiveness of jobs in agribusiness, Scientific Papers. Series "Management,
Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 23(1), 387- 394. 2023.
[21]
McNamara J, Mohammadrezaei M, Moran B, Dillon E., Data driven identification of injury
risk factors during expansion on Irish dairy farms. J Agromed. 29(2):265–76.
2024.
[22]
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department for Agriculture,
4-H: USDA’s
Youth Development Program (accessed on 20 August 2026),
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/4-h
2026.
20
Mirela
Stanciu
, Mihai-Radu
Pop
, Agatha
Popescu
[23]
Peden, A. E., McMillan, F., Alonzo, D., Franklin, R. C., Pilot Evaluation of a Co-Designed
Gamified
Farm
Injury
Prevention
Educational
Resource
for
Adolescents,
Journal
of
Agromedicine, 29(4), 615–625.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2024.2382716
2024.
[24]
Popescu, A., Dinu, T.A, Stoian, E., Serban, V., Population occupied in agriculture and
agricultural
production
value
in
Romania,
2008-2020,
Scientific
Papers
Series
Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, Vol.22(1),
503-514.
2022.
[25]
Pulley,
J.,
Claflin,
K.,
Thompson,
A.,
A
Review
of
Virtual
Reality
Applications
in
Agriculture Education and Recommendations for Future Research,
Journal of Agricultural
Education,
66(3), Article 15.
https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v66i3.3195
2025.
[26]
SafeHabitus Project, Strengthening the Farm Health and Safety Knowledge and Innovation
Systems in Europe,
https://www.safehabitus.eu/
2023.
[27]
SafeHabitus Consortium,
Practice abstracts: Understanding farm safety and farmer health
challenges in the EU
(Deliverable 1.5).
Horizon Europe Project Report. safehabitus.eu
2026.
[28]
SafeHabitus
Consurtium,
SaheHabitus
Inphographic.
Good
practices
in
Farm
Safety.
https://www.safehabitus.eu/publication/safehabitus-infographic-good-practices-in-farm-
safety/
2025.
[29]
Shortall S., Adesugba, M., Jones, A., Meredith D., Mind the gap: Who is responsible for
farm
safety
in
Europe?
SafeHabitus
Consortium
Policy
Brief,
https://www.safehabitus.eu/mind-the-gap-who-is-responsible-for-farm-safety-in-europe/
2025.
[30]
Smedescu,
D.,
Tudor,
V.,
Micu,
M.M.,
Marcuta,
L.,
Marcuta,
A.,
Smedescu,
C.,
Comparative insights into labour productivity trends in the European Union's agri-food
sector, Scientific Papers, Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and
rural development", Vol. 24(1), 899-908. 2024.
[31]
Stanciu, M., Antonie, I., Popescu, A., What are the main identified needs and occupational
health and safety issues in work on sheep farms?
Scientific Papers-Series Management
Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, 24(4), 773-780.
2024.
[32]
Sguaizer, F., Vigoroso, L., Micheletti Cremasco, M., Caffaro, F., Perceived Working
Conditions and Intention to Adopt Digital Safety Training in High-Risk Productive Sectors:
An Exploratory Study in Manufacturing and Agriculture in Northwest Italy,
Safety,
11(2),
51.
https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11020051
2025.
[33]
Tomashuk, I., Mazur, K., Alieksieieva, O., Diagnosis of the state of innovation support for
the
sustainable
development
of
the
agricultural
sector,
Baltic
Journal
of
Economic
Studies,
12(2), 116-127.
https://doi.org/10.30525/2256-0742/2026-12-2-116-127
2026.
[34]
Vasiliauskas,
G., Girdžiūtė L.,
Understanding and tackling occupational diseases and
health hazards on small family farms. European CAP Network. Practice Abstract. Research
and
Innovation.
https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/projects/practice-abstracts/
understanding-and-tackling-occupational-diseases-and-health-hazards_en
2025.