The Digital Divide in Agriculture: Making Technology Work for Every Farmer
Not all farmers benefit equally from the current digital revolution. Precision farming, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making are still unattainable for some! On the other hand, we have big farms already equipped to handle large resources and able to adopt cutting-edge technologies.
This disparity—commonly called the "digital divide"—threatens to widen existing inequalities in the agricultural sector. If we are to achieve a truly sustainable and equitable food system, we must ask how technology can work for every farmer.
The Digital Divide in Numbers
The digital divide is not just theoretical - it's a measurable challenge. According to the European Commission, 10% of rural areas in Europe lack access to broadband internet, compared to only 1% in urban regions. Moreover, a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted that smallholders who produce around one-third of the world’s food receive only a small part of agricultural research and innovation funding.
These gaps in access and investment create a vicious cycle. Without connectivity or affordable tools, smallholders are unable to adopt digital solutions, making it harder for them to compete in modern markets. This divide not only affects farmers but also the broader goals of sustainable development and food security.
Smallholder Participation in Markets: What are the Issues?
Understanding the Barriers
To bridge this divide, it’s essential to understand the unique challenges that different farmers face:
- Connectivity Issues: Many digital farming tools require reliable internet access, which is often lacking in remote rural areas. Farmers in these regions are effectively excluded from the benefits of connected technologies.
- Financial Constraints: High upfront costs and further costs for equipment like drones, sensors, or automated machinery make them inaccessible to small and medium-sized farms with limited budgets.Laso big Credits and Cash-flow deficit can be a problem.
- Knowledge and Skills: Even when technology is available, a lack of digital literacy or training can prevent farmers from using it effectively.
- Structural Constraints: Geography, Weather, Culture, and traditions… are some of the main barriers to bridge structural constraints.
- Relevance of Solutions: Not all digital tools are designed with smallholders in mind. Many solutions are tailored for large-scale operations, making them impractical for smaller farms.
Bridging the Issues Small Farmers Face
Bridging the digital divide requires a special and strategic approach. While some are mentioning multi-actor, multifaceted, etc. approaches, there are other key areas where important actions can make a difference. Here are just some listed below:
- Affordable and Scalable Technologies
Making technology affordable for everyone and for every farmer is crucial. Innovations such as shared access to high-tech machinery through cooperatives can help democratize access and transform how smallholders manage pest and disease challenges without requiring expensive equipment.
- Education and Training
Digital literacy is mentioned as one of the big problems nowadays, and technology adoption hinges on understanding. Providing hands-on training, online tutorials, and workshops tailored to farmers' needs can significantly boost digital literacy. Networks, where farmers share knowledge, are shown to be effective in building confidence and trust in new tools.
- Rural Connectivity Initiatives
Expanding broadband access in rural areas is a priority for governments and development agencies. Programs such as the EU’s Digital Agenda for Europe are there to provide fast internet to underserved regions, ensuring farmers can connect to digital platforms and services.
- Fundings and Open Calls
The EU’s approach to supporting agriculture and rural development may seem complex, but its core strategy is straightforward. Open Calls play a key role by fostering collaboration and testing innovative solutions on actual farms, driving their adoption and amplifying their impact.
To further improve conditions for small-scale farmers, the EU has launched various initiatives, including the recent EU Rural Action Plan. Built on four strategic pillars, the plan outlines objectives to strengthen rural communities and promote sustainable farming. While the technical language can be dense, the goal remains clear: create better opportunities and support for rural areas and small-scale farmers.
- The Role of Collaboration
No single organization can solve the digital divide alone. Collaboration is, therefore, crucial. It is not mentioned enough that tech companies can benefit from small farmers too: If you are involved in a tech company and curious about how to connect with small farmers and why, keep these two steps in mind: 1) Collaborate with researchers and scientists to jointly develop new solutions for agricultural challenges, enabling more rapid and effective innovation compared to traditional research methods. 2) Network to build market access and opportunities by connecting with potential buyers and partners, opening up new markets, diversifying income streams, and increasing resilience to market fluctuations.
General, governments, technology providers, researchers, and farmers’ organizations must work together to:
- Develop inclusive policies that prioritize digital agriculture in rural development plans.
- Ensure public and private investments support smallholder-friendly solutions.
- Foster partnerships that bring together diverse expertise and resources.
A Case Study in Bridging the Gap
Despite significant public and private investments, the adoption and utilization of agricultural digital solutions (ADSs) remain limited. Democratizing utilization of ADSs in agriculture is about creating an inclusive ecosystem where every farmer, regardless of size or economic status, can access the necessary tools and support. By fostering government initiatives, cooperative structures, digital finance solutions, educational programs, and collaborative research, we can ensure that the benefits of agricultural innovation are shared equitably, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Farmtopia, a Horizon Europe project running from September 2023 to August 2026, aims to democratize digital farming, focusing on small-scale farmers. Farmtopia is tackling the mentioned challenges head-on with a tailored, farmer-centric approach. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and scalability, the project aims to close the digital divide and ensure no farmer is left behind:
- Co-Creating Digital Solutions: At the heart of Farmtopia's strategy is the co-creation of agricultural digital solutions that are practical, problem-solving, and tailored specifically to the realities of small farms. This ensures that technology is not only accessible but also genuinely impactful for the farmers who need it most.
- Reducing Costs Through Scalability: Farmtopia is developing reusable software modules, business models, and infrastructure that minimize costs for both farmers and ADS providers. This scalable approach allows innovative tools to reach a broader audience without financial barriers.
- Piloting and Deployment: The project guides the co-creation, deployment, and real-world testing of cutting-edge ADSs. By designing and validating business and governance models alongside these tools, Farmtopia ensures their long-term viability and relevance for small farms.
With this comprehensive approach, Farmtopia is not just driving technological innovation - it's empowering farmers, creating sustainable pathways, and laying the groundwork for a more inclusive agricultural future.
Open Call for Innovation
Farmtopia’s undergoing Open Call for Innovation further underscores its commitment to inclusivity. The Open Call mechanism will allow Farmtopia to dynamically respond to evolving policy and technological landscapes. The project will select 9 new farms (SIPs) that will co-create and test smart solutions for small farms, benefiting from Farmtopia’s reusable software modules. The overall amount to be set aside to support and fund third-party SIPs under the Open Call through sub-grants is €900.000, which means €100.000 per SIP.
Further reading
Digital Transformation of Precision Agriculture Through IoT and AI
Tools for Lowering Livestock Emissions, Reducing Waste, Empowering Small-Scale Farmers
Boosting Agricultural Democratization Through Tech Company and Farming Cooperatives Collaborations
The Role of Digital Solutions in Democratizing Agriculture
Farmers Cooperatives: Strengthening Small Farmers Through Collective Action
