Flowery language: The promises of new technology and impacts on Polish labor in Dutch horticulture

This research examines whether CEE migrants are represented in current Dutch technology discourses, and the impact of emerging technologies on Polish migrant labor in the Dutch horticultural value chain. Employing a Global Value Chain approach as an analytical lens, this paper injects labor process theory and science and technology studies into GVC to ad-dress two gaps often omitted or under-studied: labor and the role of new technology. Meth-ods to examine these issues included a desk review of government and industry documents and a series of formal interviews and informal conversations with industry, unions, and work-ers. Understanding that migrant labor and technological innovation are twin pillars of Dutch horticulture, this research demonstrates the silence of labor in official documents while bringing to light impacts of this technology on Polish migrants. This paper concludes by presenting responses to my research questions, suggestions for additional research, and broader suggestions for readers to critique national strategies and their communication.