Politicizing equipment, equipping autonomy. A survey on self-build agricultural equipment in France

This article explores the rhetorical and practical drivers of technological autonomy. It is based on research conducted on the activities of a training organization promoting the self-construction of agricultural machinery, the Atelier Paysan. It shows first of all a plurality of modes of existence of autonomy: an autonomy with political depth, advocated by the trainers, and a more pragmatic autonomy for farmers. It then highlights the importance of the tools and equipment mobilized during the training courses, which constitute the infrastructure for all construction and maintenance activities. The article thus argues in favor of taking greater account of the material dimension of autonomy processes.