i+ii.) Objectives and tasks:
The study looked at the many ways in which digital solutions can be implemented on the ground to help the agrifood chain, transform itself to achieve more sustainability. The study looked at three areas: agriculture, food waste & loss, nutrition. Together with the solution, we identified obstacles, challenges, gaps and possible policy recommendations. Action items were addressed at the European Union both as an actor of change at home, and in global governance, and are spread across ten areas, from boosting connectivity and data governance to actions aimed at empowering small farmers and end users.
iii.) Methods:
Desk research, interviews, case studies, expert group
iv.) Findings:
Digital technologies can have real benefits for sustainability in the agrifood chain, for example when it comes to: precision agriculture, empowering small famers, reducing food waste and minimising loss and empowering consumers for better nutrition and health.
Digital technologies, however, also entail risks: reinforcing digital divides and opportunity gaps; increasing energy consumption of ICT; increased e-waste; potential job loss through automation; market concentration and ‘data hoarding’; new ethical questions when it comes to data protection, AI etc.
We concluded with 10 policy recommendations.
