Chapter 11 - Where do we stand with digitalization? An assessment of digital transformation in Hungarian agriculture

Abstract

Like other economic sectors, agriculture is increasingly affected by the digital revolution. The desired outcomes of the spread of the digital agriculture are more profitable and sustainable production systems. Hungary established a national Digital Agriculture Strategy, and a part of this will be the task of the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics to monitor the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) use among the country's farmers. Therefore, in 2018, a questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the ICT skills of individual farmers and managers, as well as issues related to the use of digital devices and information systems. Another study was focusing on the adoption of precision agriculture among the arable farms of the Hungarian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Both surveys revealed that more work needs to be done to demonstrate the value and benefit of digital technologies, and there is a need to encourage and support digital investments. At the same time, digital skills are increasingly important to exploit the benefits of the new technologies. Formal learning opportunities will help for future farmers; however, there is also a need to upskill those already working in the agriculture sector.