Digitalization of agriculture: A way to solve the food problem or a trolley dilemma?

Abstract

The high potential of digital applications for agriculture generates enthusiasm about the future of food production. Some view the intelligence offered by digital tools as a way to solve the still pressing food problem. Nevertheless, social, ethical, political, cultural, and environmental concerns associated with digitalization loom large. In this article, using as a framework the artificial trolley dilemma – a situation in which one has to decide about the rightness of putting at risk someone trying to avoid some obvious and imminent noxious effects to a larger group of people – we present the promises and perils of agricultural digitalization. We also point out the need to develop new trajectories for the digital agricultural revolution that ensure the increase of food production without severe negative societal impacts. Although digitalization is sometimes viewed as a panacea for boosting the transition of agrifood production towards more sustainable paradigms, the trade-off may be complicated and requires in-depth analyses excavating the multiple rationales in digitalizing farming. Today, there is a need for science to prove that digitalization does have society-wide positive impacts. On the other side of the coin, the assessment and the estimation of the magnitude of the externalities that digital technologies may have require the development and application of robust evaluation methods. Finally, policies must emphasize the need to provide inclusive and open spaces for agricultural digitalization.