Digital Agricultural Technologies Research Articles

Patterns of Inequalities in Digital Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review

Digitalization of agriculture is often hailed as the next agricultural revolution. However, little is yet known about its social impacts and power effects. This review addresses this research gap by analyzing patterns of inequality linked to the development and adoption of digital technologies in agriculture and reviewing the strategies developed to reduce these inequalities and challenge the power relations in which they are embedded. Analysis of 84 publications found through a systematic literature review identified five patterns of inequality: (1) in digital technology development; (2) in the distribution of benefits from the use of digital technologies; (3) in sovereignty over data, hardware and digital infrastructure; (4) in skills and knowledge (‘digital literacy’); and (5) in problem definition and problem-solving capacities. This review also highlights the existence of emancipatory initiatives that are applying digital technologies to challenge existing inequalities and to advance alternative visions of agriculture. These initiatives underscore the political nature of digital agriculture; however, their reach is still quite limited. This is partly due to the fact that existing inequalities are structural and represent expressions of corporate power. From such a perspective, digitalization in agriculture is not a ‘revolution’ per se; rather, digital technologies mirror and reproduce existing power relations.

HARNESSING DIGITAL AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN INDIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Agriculture in India faces an unprecedented challenge. As a signatory to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), India must end hunger by 2030. Achievement of this goal hinges on finding viable solutions to make farming a sustainable source of income generation by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. A survey of the literature reveals that digital technologies offer promising results to farmers globally. However, India lags in the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture. The paper identifies opportunities in promoting the development and adoption of digital agriculture technologies. It analyses policy interventions of the Government of India, such as Digital Agriculture and Precision Agriculture, to make the agriculture sector more sustainable in terms of economic, environmental, and societal perspectives. This research paper discusses barriers to their adoption and provides policy suggestions. It is an analytical paper based on a survey of literature that is secondary sources such as books, research articles, and policy documents, reports published by various government and non-government organizations, online databases, and discussion papers. Thematic analysis was used to identify sustainable agriculture dimensions and discover opportunities and challenges in using digital agriculture technologies.

Shaking it up: The realities of ‘doing’ co-innovation in a privatised agricultural advisory and extension system

Pluralistic agricultural advisory systems comprise diverse actors, including public and private research, development, and extension (RD&E) providers, and private sector agricultural advisors. Co-innovation, as a collaborative engagement involving the full range of actors, is regarded as useful when addressing issues arising from this complexity. However, what helps or hinders successful co-innovation with public and private actors in real-world situations is still under-described in the literature. A deeper understanding of the social interactions and practices of doing co-innovation in specific settings is required to achieve successful co-innovation outcomes. This paper asks: What key features of practice support co-innovation with public and private system actors? And: How can enhanced understanding of practice assist in strengthening co-innovation processes? We present findings from research funded by the Australian government from 2015 to 2018 to strengthen private sector extension roles and connections between the RD&E functions in Australia's pluralistic advisory system. Four action research pilots were co-designed with system actors to support co-innovation. These were: Involving agricultural supply chain actors in collaborative agricultural R&D; Increasing farm advisor capacity to engage with digital agricultural technologies; Improving career pathways for new entrants in the advisory and extension sector; and Improving knowledge flows in the advisory and extension system. We found that co-innovation requires potentially profound social change; a shaking up of expectations about roles, responsibilities, and institutionalised processes. The research also suggests that the requirement for social change is underacknowledged in current co-innovation practice, with implications for the success or failure of co-innovation partnerships. Applying a practice theory perspective, our research highlights features of practice that constrained and enabled co-innovation in the four pilots. In doing so, the research provides insights to assist in successful operationalisation of co-innovation involving the private sector in pluralistic agricultural advisory systems.

RURAL DATA DIVIDES: CRITICAL FACTORS OF DIGITAL AGTECH ADOPTION ON AUSTRALIAN FARMS

This paper details a qualitative investigation of human factors relating to adoption of digital agricultural technologies on Australian farms. We employed an ‘ecosystems’ approach to undertake a case study of a cotton farm’s transition to digital farming. Interviews and participant observation were conducted across the farm’s supply chain to understand how the experiences, perceptions, and activities of different stakeholders constituted a community-level orientation to digital agriculture, which enabled and constrained on-farm adoption. Technology providers installed a variety of data-generating technologies – remote sensors, automation, satellite crop imagery, WiFi/4G connectivity, and a customised data dashboard on the farm. However, the farmers lacked digital and data literacy skills to access, manage and use data effectively and independently. Specialist expertise for data translation was required, and support and resourcing for the farmers to acquire data capabilities was limited. This ‘data divide’ between the generation and application of farm data was complicated by broader issues raised by participants about data ownership, portability, privacy, trust, liability, and sovereignty, which have been observed internationally. The paper raises questions about the level of expertise farmers should be expected to attain in the transition to digital farming, who in the ecosystem is best placed to fill this ‘data divide’, and what interventions are necessary to address significant barriers to adoption in rural communities. It also highlights a tension between farmers’ $2 as decision-makers on their own properties and their $2 on digital technologies – and the ecosystems that support uptake of digital AgTech – to inform on-farm decisions.

Implementation of digital technologies in agriculture on the example of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The article is devoted to issues related to the development of the agricultural economy, as well as one urgent and, in part, a priority area as the digitalization of agriculture through the use of innovative technologies. In this article, the author draws attention to why today it is impossible to do without the introduction of digital technologies in the field of agriculture of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The author defines the main trends in agriculture in Yakutia at the present time, considers the areas of agriculture that are popular today, gives the opinions of authoritative people on the existing problem of digitalization of agriculture. The author also defines the tasks of digitalization of agriculture in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) through the introduction of the Unified Agricultural System of Agricultural Companies. In addition, the author in this article focuses on what exactly and when was introduced in this area, as well as what the innovations can lead to. At the end of the article, the author comes to the conclusion that the introduction of digital technologies in the agriculture of Yakutia is a necessary measure, without which it is impossible to imagine further effective and successful development of this area.

State support of the Russian agro-industrial complex in the digital economy

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to solve the problem of the development of state regulation of the functioning of the agro-industrial complex in the context of digital transformation, as well as the development and justification of ways to improve its efficiency. The existing system of state regulation does not fully take into account the needs of the agro-industrial complex in the development of digital transformation and is not sufficiently focused on stimulating the introduction of digital technologies. The scientific novelty of the study is to clarify the methodology for evaluating the implementation of the state program for the introduction of the digital economy. To analyse the effect of the introduction of digital technologies in agriculture, we have clarified the methodology for calculating the efficiency assessment. We have proposed a new model for the successful transition to digital technology of agricultural enterprises.

КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТЬ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННЫХ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА

Annotation. The article discusses the issues of assessing the competitiveness of agricultural organizations in the implementation of the departmental project Digital Technologies in Agriculture. The competitiveness of agricultural organizations can be influenced by many factors, both macroeconomic and microeconomic. Digitalization of business processes allows you to optimize these processes and the costs of production and sale of products manufactured by agricultural producers. The growth of the competitiveness of the economy, including the agricultural sector, is provided to a greater extent by the introduction of information technologies and resources. Therefore, in every agricultural enterprise, one of the important elements of increasing competitiveness, it is advisable to consider the readiness to introduce digital technologies. However, when introducing digitalization, a scientifically grounded organizational and economic mechanism is needed, the use of which will optimize the cost of agricultural products, increase the efficiency of the use of financial, labor and other resources by agricultural producers.

Evaluation of Industry 4.0 Applications for Agriculture using AHP Methodology

In today’s world because of increasing competition, shifting customer demands and expectations firms have to shorten their time-to-market, increase their flexibility and efficiency. Industry 4.0 applications as meet these requirements gain popularity. Awareness of the necessity of Industry 4.0 applications for excellent customer experience and great innovation capacity and studies searching advantageous applications for related sectors are increasing day by day. In this context, the agriculture sector, like other sectors, adapts to the changing conditions within the scope of Industry 4.0, and the concept of Agriculture 4.0, which includes digital agricultural technologies, appears. This study provides a detailed framework for the transition from Industry 4.0 to Agriculture 4.0 and digital agricultural tools. In addition, it is aimed to contribute to the literature by choosing the best alternative by evaluating these digital agricultural tools with the Analytical Hierarchy Process method according to cost, income, applicability and practicality criteria.

Thresholding Analysis and Feature Extraction from 3D Ground Penetrating Radar Data for Noninvasive Assessment of Peanut Yield

This study explores the efficacy of utilizing a novel ground penetrating radar (GPR) acquisition platform and data analysis methods to quantify peanut yield for breeding selection, agronomic research, and producer management and harvest applications. Sixty plots comprising different peanut market types were scanned with a multichannel, air-launched GPR antenna. Image thresholding analysis was performed on 3D GPR data from four of the channels to extract features that were correlated to peanut yield with the objective of developing a noninvasive high-throughput peanut phenotyping and yield-monitoring methodology. Plot-level GPR data were summarized using mean, standard deviation, sum, and the number of nonzero values (counts) below or above different percentile threshold values. Best results were obtained for data below the percentile threshold for mean, standard deviation and sum. Data both below and above the percentile threshold generated good correlations for count. Correlating individual GPR features to yield generated correlations of up to 39% explained variability, while combining GPR features in multiple linear regression models generated up to 51% explained variability. The correlations increased when regression models were developed separately for each peanut type. This research demonstrates that a systematic search of thresholding range, analysis window size, and data summary statistics is necessary for successful application of this type of analysis. The results also establish that thresholding analysis of GPR data is an appropriate methodology for noninvasive assessment of peanut yield, which could be further developed for high-throughput phenotyping and yield-monitoring, adding a new sensor and new capabilities to the growing set of digital agriculture technologies.

Digitalization and AI in European Agriculture: A Strategy for Achieving Climate and Biodiversity Targets?

This article analyzes the environmental opportunities and limitations of digitalization in the agricultural sector by applying qualitative governance analysis. Agriculture is recognized as a key application area for digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. This is not least because it faces major sustainability challenges, especially with regard to meeting the climate and biodiversity targets set out in the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the water-related objectives of EU environmental legislation. Based on an overview of the possible applications of digital technologies in agriculture, the article offers a status quo analysis of legal acts with relevance to digitalization in the EU agricultural sector. It is found that a reliable legal framework with regard to product liability and product safety, as well as data privacy, data access, and data security is important in this context. In addition, the European Common Agricultural Policy, as the most important funding instrument for digital innovations in the agricultural sector, should be designed in such a way that it links digitalization-related objectives more closely with sustainability targets. So far, the existing EU governance does not fully exploit the potentials of digitalization for environmental protection, and sight is lost of possible negative side effects such as rebound and shifting effects. Therefore, the article also offers proposals for the optimization of EU governance.

A techno-economic analysis of digital agriculture services: an ecological approach toward green growth

A scientifically and ecologically robust system paradigm is emerging as digital agriculture services where sensors and actuators have a vital role in monitoring and management of farming practices. Generally, farm management decisions are taken by farmers based on cropland growing conditions, previous experience, and desired outcomes. These decisions can be supplemented with the recommendations derived from sensor-based farm management information systems. This work investigates the economic and environmental performance of conventional and ecological farming methods with the help of a techno-economic analysis of digital agriculture technologies in the Upper Gangetic Plains in North India. It attempts to describe the expected attributes that farmers value when it comes to digital agriculture services based on the empirical data obtained from technology developers, field-trainers, and participating farmers. The distinctive attributes of the services are decided after analyzing the collected data. Information sharing with the farmers about their land holdings, cultivated crops, irrigation facilities, used fertilizers, input cost, net income, use of digital technologies, farming apps, socioeconomic background, and their educational qualification was found helpful in improving their productivity and profitability. The conducted assessment contributed to the generalized management of agroecological resources toward highly optimized, intelligent, individualized, and anticipatory farm management practices.

Digital Literacy of the Rural Population of Yakutia

The article presents the results of a study focused on the awareness of the fact that specialists with digital literacy are in demand in rural areas of Yakutia. The authors justify the need for the use of digital technologies in agriculture, analyzing the opinions of individual specialists.

The impact of digitalization of agriculture on sustainable development of rural territories

The article focuses on studies of the digitalization of agriculture and rural areas based on the use of information and communication technologies, since the sustainable development in rural areas will be determined by the fact how innovatively developed they will be in the coming decades. The emergence of digital technologies in agriculture is based on progressive solutions such as robotization, automation, and geo-positioning. Digitalization based on the use of information and communication technologies and related technological changes are considered as objective processes, as a result of the technological progress. The purpose of the current research is to improve the theory and practice of the development of digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas. The main research methods that were used to carry out the work are observation methods, analysis and synthesis, a systematic approach. The performed analysis of innovative processes in agriculture from the standpoint of the use of information and communication technologies shows the effectiveness of their implementation in the agricultural sector to achieve economic and social effect.

Application of Digital Technologies in the Development of a Ration for Feeding Productive Animals

To make management decisions, it is necessary not only to have reliable data, but to adequately and timely analyze them as well. Applying digital technologies in agriculture, decision support systems for diet formulation with mathematical exactness will allow planning animal’s feeding taking into account many factors (animal genotype, age, seasonality, etc.). The growth and development of animals, their productivity depend primarily on the level of balanced feeding. The article proposes a computer system methodology for evaluating and optimizing the diet of animal feeding based on a structural-parametric model. The advantage of the structural-parametric model of animal feeding is that it considers the whole variety of factors of nutrients influence on the processes occurring in the animal’s body, depending on its current physiological state; allows one to establish patterns, the knowledge of which with a sufficient degree of confidence speaks about possible deviations in feeding, the reasons for their occurrence; allows one to find a solution to replenish the imbalance in the required macro- and micronutrients. The use in agriculture of science-intensive decision support systems based on knowledge of the subject matter experts and strictly verified mathematical methods will increase the productivity of animals and provide a high-quality product with the ability to trace the trophological chain from the field to the counter.

Digital Technologies in Agriculture of Arid Territories of Altai

The soil resources of the dry Altai steppe and, in particular, their fertility in their evolutionary development are degraded under intense anthropogenic load. The use of digital technologies will help to remove environmental tensions, increase the efficiency of agricultural soil fertility, and reduce the cost of crop production. After evaluating the totality of the considered natural conditions of the basic economy, a matrix of natural factors that determine the choice of a particular farming system is developed, on the basis of which a digital model and a database of the geoinformation system are built. The proposed set of attributes is designed for managing agriculture on an agroecological basis, preserving and reproducing the fertility of soil resources.

ЦИФРОВА МОДЕЛЬ УПРАВЛІННЯ МАТЕРІАЛЬНИМИ РЕСУРСАМИ В СІЛЬСЬКОМУ ГОСПОДАРСТВІ БІЛОРУСІ

Problem statement. The accelerated development of the digital economy involves making proactive decisions to minimize the risks and threats of the new business format to the efficiency of the agricultural industry. Purpose of article. Specify key directions of development of digital technologies in the management of material resources and financial flows, to justify the risks and threats when implementing a digital control models, identify key factors in the transition moving to digital. The object of research is the management of material resources in the context of the development of the digital economy. Methods used in research. The theoretical and methodological basis for research was the work of scientists on the development of the digital economy and the management of material resources in agriculture. In the course of re- search, the following methods were used: monographic, abstract-logical, synthesis and system analysis, etc. The hypothesis of the study. The development of electronic and digital systems and models of material re- source management in comparison with traditional ones has a wide range of features, barriers and opportunities. Presentation of the main material. The development of digital technologies in agriculture is fragmented. The implementation of effective digital systems for managing material resources involves responding to and anticipating risks and barriers at the stage of transition from traditional to electronic models. Originality and practical value. The scientific novelty of the research is to systematize and supplement the scientific basis for the development of digital models of material resource management in agriculture, which subsequently contributes to the development of the concept of "Intellectualization of agribusiness in the Republic of Belarus" in terms of material resource management. Conclusions. The implementation of an effective system for managing material resources in agriculture in Belarus in the context of the digital economy is possible by drawing up road maps for parallel digitalization of all sectors of the national economy, which contains opportunities, risks, and barriers to implementing electronic business models.

Grasping at digitalisation: turning imagination into fact in the sugarcane farming community

Nutrient runoff from catchments that drain into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a significant source of stress for this World Heritage Area. An alliance of collaborative on-ground water quality monitoring (Project 25) and technologically driven digital application development (Digiscape GBR) projects were formulated to provide data that highlighted the contribution of a network of Australian sugar cane farmers, amongst other sources, to nutrient runoff. This environmental data and subsequent information were extended to the farming community through scientist-led feedback sessions and the development of specialised digital technology (1622™WQ) that help build an understanding of the nutrient movements, in this case nitrogen, such that farmers might think about and eventually act to alter their fertilizer application practices. This paper reflects on a socio-environmental sustainability challenge that emerged during this case study, by utilising the nascent concept of digi-grasping. We highlight the importance of the entire agricultural knowledge and advice network being part of an innovation journey to increase the utility of digital agricultural technologies developed to increase overall sustainability. We develop the digi-MAST analytical framework, which explores modes of being and doing in the digital world, ranging from ‘the everyday mystery of the digital world (M)’, through digital ‘awareness (A)’, digitally ‘sparked’ being/s (S), and finally the ability of individuals and/or groups to ‘transform (T)’ utilising digital technologies and human imaginations. Our digi-MAST framework allows us to compare agricultural actors, in this case, to understand present modes of digi-grasping to help determine the resources and actions likely to be required to achieve impact from the development of various forms of digital technological research outputs.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF DIGITALIZATION

The article is devoted to unlocking the potential of digital technologies in agriculture, in particular in animal husbandry. Digital technologies in animal husbandry allow at the current level to collect and analyze information for production and management decisions aimed at improving production efficiency and profitability of the enterprise. The aim of the article is to study the current state of digitalization of livestock in Ukraine and determine the prospects for the introduction of digital technologies in the practice of agricultural enterprises. The subject of research is the processes of digital transformation of animal husbandry. On the basis of theoretical generalization, methods of analysis and synthesis the approaches of scientists to aspects of agricultural production in the conditions of digital transformation are investigated. Information materials were used in the research, including from the sites where the results of research and information on the digitization of the livestock industry are presented. The current state of the livestock industry is analyzed. The necessity of revival and ensuring sustainable development of the industry is proved. On the basis of the conducted analysis the estimation of application of digital technologies at the agricultural enterprises of branch of animal husbandry in the modern period is given. The need to increase the level of digitalization, using the latest advances in information technology. An assessment of the level of development of information technology used in different countries to ensure the digitalization of animal husbandry. Examples of introduction of digital technologies in large Ukrainian agricultural holdings are given. Based on the analysis, an assessment of the use of digital technologies in agricultural enterprises in the modern period is given. Factors that slow down the introduction of digital technologies have been identified. Promising digital solutions for the livestock business are considered. It is noted that digitalization should optimize and simplify many production processes, increase profitability and profitability of the business. Need a thorough analysis and in-depth research on the cost-effectiveness of the introduction of digitization tools in the livestock sector. Areas for further work to identify measures that could be taken into account in order to expand the introduction of digital technologies in agriculture, including farms.

НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ И СНИЖЕНИЕ РИСКА ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ АГРОПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ В ЦИФРОВОЙ СРЕДЕ

Agriculture can rightfully be called one of the most risky areas of production and business. Modern technologies, machines, information systems make it possible to accurately predict and assess risks, and therefore pro- vide agricultural producers with opportunities to manage risk, the final results of production activities, and indicators of efficiency and profitability. The article discusses the impact on reducing the risk of production and increasing the efficiency of the introduction of digital technologies in agriculture. The author highlighted the main legislative and regulatory documents that determine the staging of the process of introducing digital technologies into agricultural production, and also analyzed the implemented activities, programs and projects within the framework of the Digital Agriculture project. The impact of risks on agricultural production is undeniable, they cause fluctuations in both indicators of agricultural production and related industries (processing, food processing), determine not only the profitability of agricultural producers, but also the food and economic security of the country. The author identifies the formation of a digital environment in agriculture as one of the areas of control, regulation and minimization of production risk to an acceptably low level, as well as increasing production efficiency. The introduction of digital technologies in agriculture, based on digital solutions such as big data and artificial intelligence, the Internet of things and robotization, is carried out both at the national, regional and agribusiness levels. Therefore, it is important to evaluate each digital solution, the effectiveness of its implementation and the ability to influence the final result of the activity.

The role of digital technologies in agricultural development and foreign experience

This article substantiates the need for the transition to the digitaleconomy, provides a brief overview of the definitions of the concepts of and and discloses their essence. The measures taken by the government of the republic to introduce the digital economy are analyzed, and the factors that hinder the development of digital technologies in agriculture are noted. Directions for enhancing the development of the digital economy in the Republic of Uzbekistan are proposed. Agriculture is one of the leading sectors of the economy of Uzbekistan, where deep structural changes are taking place. The favourable natural and climatic conditions that Uzbekistan has, the selfless and hardworking people, as well as the carefully thought-out strategy of the state in this direction, contribute to the dynamic development of the agricultural sector: our land is grown beautiful, delicious, environmentally friendlythe fruits of the earth and the sun, which are very popular in the world markets. The state of economic potential, the level of food security of the state and the socio-economic situation in a society largely depend on the level of development of theagro-industrial complex (AIC). The main task of the agro-industrial complex is to maximize the standard of living of the population, the growth of employment and income of rural residents.