This blog post is based on the 11th Practice Abstract from the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Digital technologies are changing the way farms are managed. Sensors, drones, satellite services, farm management software, artificial intelligence and connected machinery can help farmers improve productivity, reduce input use and make better-informed decisions. Yet for many small and medium-sized farms, adopting these technologies is not always straightforward. High investment costs, limited rural connectivity and digital skills, a lack of independent advisory support, and concerns about data ownership and sharing can all stand in the way of digitalisation.
Putting farmers at the centre of digitalisation
The recommendations focus on several key areas:
- Greater farmer control over farm-generated data
- More transparency about how agricultural data is collected and used
- Better interoperability between digital systems and farm equipment
- Fairer and clearer contractual practices
- Improved access to digital skills and independent advisory services
- Investment in rural digital infrastructure
Together, these recommendations aim to create an environment where farmers can adopt digital technologies with greater confidence and have a clearer understanding of how their data and investments are being used.
Questions farmers should ask before adopting a digital solution
Choosing a digital technology is not only about what the technology can do. Farmers also need to understand how it fits into their existing farm, what it requires and what happens to the data it generates.
Before adopting a digital solution, farmers can ask:
- Which practical problem does this technology solve on my farm?
- What farm data will be collected, and why?
- Who will have access to my data?
- Can I download and transfer my data if I change provider?
- Are all costs, subscriptions and future fees clearly explained?
- Is training or technical support available?
- Will the technology work with my existing equipment?
- What benefits will I receive if I share my agricultural data?
These questions can help farmers assess not only the potential benefits of a digital tool, but also its long-term costs, compatibility and implications for data management.
Towards more inclusive digital agriculture
Farmtopia’s recommendations are intended to address some of the key barriers that currently limit digital adoption among small and medium-sized farms. By improving trust, transparency and interoperability while strengthening farmers’ control over agricultural data, future policies and support measures could make digital solutions more accessible and practical for a wider range of farms.
For Farmtopia, digitalisation is not simply about introducing more technology into agriculture. It is also about creating the right conditions for farmers to use these technologies confidently and benefit from them.
Based on Farmtopia Practice Abstract 11
This blog post was created from Practice Abstract 11: “Policy and Regulatory Recommendations for Smallholder Digital Inclusion”, part of the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Publisher: GreenSupplyChain DIH
Authors: Christopher Brewster, Alexandra Aslanidou
More information and the complete Policy & Regulatory Recommendations are available in the relevant Farmtopia project deliverables.