“Dr. Bansal’s insights on redesigning harvesting processes in agribusiness, particularly in mushroom harvesting, were truly enlightening which will make us think that redesigning the present processes is also as important as finding new innovative tools,” Komala Nadam, who is earning a master’s degree in business analytics and information management, wrote on her LinkedIn page. “I appreciate his clear explanations of the challenges faced by the farm owners and workers in harvesting mushrooms. The results from their research were impressive and thought-provoking.“

Bansal’s research originated in 2017 when he was introduced to a Kennett Square mushroom producer struggling to evaluate two different harvesting protocols. The company’s managers were unsure whether the differences in farm profitability were due to the protocols themselves or the skill level of workers. Bansal and his team of Penn State MBA students analyzed the situation, developing a decision support tool to measure which protocol was most effective in profitability.

But as the research progressed, Bansal and his team began to uncover deeper, more human-centered insights. They realized that ergonomic conditions for workers — many of whom perform physically demanding, low-wage labor — were being overlooked. Long hours spent bent over harvesting mushrooms led to significant back pain. As Bansal pointed out, even a minor improvement in the work environment can have a big impact on workers' overall well-being.

Bansal’s doctoral student, Dongsheng Li, worked closely with the mushroom farm in Kennett Square and spent days interviewing workers, observing their work processes and collecting data. Li’s fieldwork revealed that while the farm managers were aware of the harvesting protocol’s impact on the workers, farm managers were struggling to find a solution. 

“One farm manager told us that he was deeply worried about the well-being of his employees,” Bansal said. “He said the current way the workers harvested mushrooms was not good.” 

The manager explained that workers often did not report back pain early enough, leading to more severe injuries that could prevent workers from returning to work for weeks or even months.

This recognition of worker welfare led Bansal and Li to recommend a new "grazing" harvesting protocol, where workers would walk around picking mushrooms at a slower pace but with better ergonomic positioning. The protocol promised to reduce physical strain on workers while also improving the quality of the harvested mushrooms. This change would not only benefit the workers' health but also potentially lead to higher profits due to the better quality of mushrooms being harvested.

The research findings were welcomed by the farm’s owner and managers, who saw the potential to improve both productivity and worker welfare. The farm has since begun transitioning to the new grazing protocol, and greater emphasis is being placed on creating a supportive and health-conscious work environment. 

Looking forward, Bansal plans to continue his research into agricultural ergonomics, exploring how other farming sectors could benefit from similar approaches. He also envisions expanding this work, potentially securing funding for further studies on improving labor conditions and farm coordination.

In the end, Bansal’s research exemplifies the potential for academic research to intersect with real-world issues. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, this work not only enhances farm operations but also has a ripple effect that benefits the entire surrounding community — workers, businesses and consumers alike.