dr.ir. H (Harro) Maat

With a background in Science and Technology Studies, and the History of Technology, my work focuses on social patterns and institutional arrangements emerging from practices of growing food and other agricultural products. My interest extends to other practices, for example dealing with health threats, climate change and biodiversity, and how this results in socio-technical change in rural communities, past and present.

Earlier work focused on the emergence of agricultural science in (Dutch) colonial contexts, genetic variation in rice fields of African farmers, and on-farm applications of the System of Rice Intensification in India. I am co-editor of a volume about local subversions to colonial cultures imposing global commodification (see the link on the publications page). Recent work looks into the practices of growing food crops by (former) enslaved African workers, Maroons and (former) indentured Asian workers in Suriname and similar plantation contexts. 

I enjoy supporting students in their (BSc-/MSc-) thesis or PhD project and welcome new studies on related topics dealing with co-production of social orders, science, expertise and skilled work.