Digitalization, sustainability, and coffee. Opportunities and challenges for agricultural development

Abstract

CONTEXTDigital technologies have the potential to address several sustainability challenges of the coffee value chain, however, given potential backlash consequences, this process must be assessed thoroughly. Descriptions of digital tools designed for this value chain have been presented in the literature, however, a critical examination of socio-environmental consequences of the process of digitalization is still lacking. OBJECTIVEUsing a socio-technical approach, this article examines innovation pathways proposed by the process of digitalization in the coffee value chain and identifies the opportunities and challenges of these pathways to contribute to sustainability goals in this value chain. METHODSTechnical characteristics of 20 digital tools oriented to the coffee producing sector are examined. We carried out a review of secondary information and conducted online semi-structured interviews with developers of these tools. Qualitative analyses of these characteristics were conducted across three themes: 1) knowledge and value systems represented, 2) power structures, 3) effective use of digital technology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur analysis identified two digitalization pathways that are likely to affect different dimensions of sustainability. On the one hand, digital advisory services are focused on the diffusion of conventional agricultural practices to optimize production for a commodity market. On the other hand, trade platforms and traceability systems are associated with enhanced visibility of producers to facilitate their participation in differentiated markets. However, access barriers to technologies create asymmetrical participation of producers in these scenarios. Additionally, evidence shows that, more than a revolution, digitalization of the coffee value chain is about optimization of production based on the use of synthetic inputs and of traditional extension models, and more efficient social coordination within already centralized power structures. SIGNIFICANCEThe analytical framework based on the technical characteristics of digital tools and their interaction with social systems revealed that sustainability outcomes derived from the process of digitalization in the coffee value chain are far from being straightforward. Considering digital technologies not as a homogeneous category, but as a configuration of different technical arrays, each one with distinctive patterns and impacts, provides a more nuanced understanding of the role of digitalization for agricultural development.