Agricultural Breakthrough Technology 7 Factsheet: Digital Services

Digital services in agriculture: Leveraging technology to empower smallholder farmers and enhance climate-resilient practices

Digital agricultural services offer multiple benefits for farmers, aiding them in adapting to climate change while enhancing food production sustainably. These services can optimize fertiliser use, enhance irrigation efficiency, improve livestock management, reduce food waste, and provide real-time data on crop health, weather conditions, and market prices. While larger commercial farmers in high-income countries have embraced these technologies, the digital divide poses challenges for smallholders, particularly in low-income regions, where these services remain inaccessible and expensive. Bridging this divide is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the Global South, where there is the greatest need for key digital services. These include agricultural research, flood and drought monitoring, weather forecasts, crop insurance, agricultural advice, product traceability, financial inclusion, and e-commerce.