Between on-site and the clouds: Socio-cyber-physical assemblages in on-farm diversification

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the integration of digitalisation in multifunctional and diversified agriculture. In this empirical work based on socio-cyber-physical assemblage thinking, first we found that on-site material and immaterial conditions like living on the farm, farm settings, and creative human work still matter and deserve more attention in responsible digital agriculture. Second, in our small sample we found that internet and cloud-computing are the main digital technologies used in on-farm diversification, particularly infrastructures-as-a-service and software-as-a-service. Third, when farmers introduce digital technologies in their diversification, three tentative configurations of socio-cyber-physical assemblages are outlined and can be further assessed in future research: punctiform, horizontal, and vertical configurations, or a combination thereof. For each configuration, we illustrate key features and examples. Nine clusters of factors were identified as affecting these assemblages. These factors could help researchers and practitioners to understand why the digitalisation of diversified farms can be so diverse and needs to be carefully adapted. For policymakers, these factors can also serve to qualify the setting up of conditions to steer integrated agri-food-rural policies towards on-farm diversification, including responsible digitalisation. The paper argues that digitalisation in agriculture can unfold through different strategies (minimising, mutualising, grounding, enlarging digitalisation) and requires holistic and ambitious policy commitments for sustainability. For example, the paper suggests the setting up of a new EU-wide target for increasing the share of farmers engaged in on-farm diversification through the Common Agricultural Policy or European Farm-to-Fork Strategy.