The SIT project examines how transformations in Swiss agriculture, such as digitalisation, climate adaptation, labour shortages, and structural change, affect farmers’ stress and wellbeing. As farmers face higher burnout risk than the general population, the project develops, tests, and validates a stress assessment tool tailored to agriculture. This tool will serve both as a research instrument and a social sustainability indicator, enabling integration of stress data into sustainability assessments, policy, and farm management. Using a transdisciplinary mixed-methods design, the project combines psychological, agricultural, and sustainability research with participatory input from farmers and stakeholders. Five work packages address:

1. stress concepts, instruments, and influencing factors;
2. testing and validation;
3. analysis of internal and external stressors;
4. linking perceived stress with modelled workloads;
5. dissemination and prevention. Expected outcomes include a validated tool, evidence on key stressors, integration into indicator sets, and recommendations to reduce stress and strengthen the resilience of Swiss agriculture.