GROW DIGITAL! Evaluating the Impact of the Digital Transformation in Agriculture

Empower farmers' organizations to take a leading role in the ongoing digital transformation, ensuring they are well-equipped to support their members in navigating and thriving in this new environment. This project will also assess what is required for these organizations to fulfill their promise of guiding their members through the challenges of digitalization, ensuring that the transformation is both sustainable and socially robust.

Specific Objectives and Activities

1.     Empowering Farmers' Organizations and Generating Awareness: Strengthen the capacity of farmers' organizations to drive the digital transformation by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge.

a.     Organize informative seminars to raise awareness members about digital changes, including the opportunities and risks associated with adopting new technologies

                                                  i.     among  farmers

                                                 ii.     specifically dedicated to the organisation’s team.

This step is crucial in building a solid understanding of the benefits and potential vulnerabilities.

2.     Assessment of Needs and Risk Mitigation:  Evaluate what is needed for farmers' organizations to effectively support their members in the digital transformation. Zscheischler et al. (2022) identify a set of concerns that are affecting farmers’ trust towards digital. These include among other Data Sovereignty and Ownership, Dependence on Large Technology Providers, Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts, Complexity and Usability of Digital Tools, Regulatory and Legal Challenges. The project will leverage these insights to conduct a thorough assessment of the specific needs and risks faced by farmers' organizations in guiding their members through the digital transformation. This will include:

a.     Surveys and Consultations: Conducting surveys and consultations with farmers to identify their concerns and vulnerabilities related to digitalization;

b.     Workshops and Training: Developing workshops and training sessions focused on data management, digital literacy, and the ethical use of digital tools, tailored to the specific needs identified.

c.     Gaps and opportunities identification: report outlining how the organizations can better assist farmers, mitigating risks, and seizing new opportunities, in particular for smaller farmers.

3.     Support Tools for Farmers' Organizations:  Building on the European Digital Transition Toolkit, provide farmers' organizations with access to tailor-made tools also inspired by the reflections of JRC included in the "Digital transition: Long-term implications for EU farmers and rural communities." This will enable these organizations to better manage the digital transition, offering practical tools to support their members and rural communities in the long term.

4.     Socially Robust Orientations (SoROs): Collaborate with farmers' organizations to develop guidelines that reflect responsible management of digital risks, as emerged from the transdisciplinary process reported in the document "Risks.pdf." These guidelines will help organizations lead their members in protecting biodiversity, managing data sovereignty, and creating open data platforms to avoid information asymmetries and ensure global food security.

5.     Monitoring, Adaptation, and Continuous Support: Implement a continuous monitoring system to evaluate the impacts of digitalization and adapt strategies based on the results. This system will actively involve farmers' organizations, ensuring they are equipped to provide ongoing support and leadership to their members as they navigate the digital transformation.

Expected Outcomes

This project is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

a.     Increased Awareness: Farmers and agricultural organizations will have a heightened understanding of the digital transformation process, including both its benefits and risks.

b.     Enhanced Digital Literacy: Through training and seminars, participants will gain the skills needed to navigate and leverage digital tools effectively in their agricultural practices.

c.     Risk Mitigation: The implementation of socially robust orientations will reduce the potential risks associated with digitalization, such as data sovereignty issues and environmental impacts.

d.     Improved Decision-Making: Farmers’ organisations will be equipped with tools and knowledge to make more informed decisions, leading to increased efficiency and sustainability in their practices.

e.     Global Impact: By addressing information asymmetries and promoting data sharing, the project will contribute to global food security and sustainable agricultural practices.