Harvesting data to grow a sustainable pathway for food production: A qualitative case study of digital agriculture

Abstract

The mission to feed the world and protect the planet is inseparably bound with the critical task to make farming more productive and environmentally sustainable. However, as agriculture is vulnerable to climate impacts such as shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, the agri-food sector is faced with major challenges in their task of supporting a growing population. In response to these challenges, we have witnessed a dramatic surge in investment toward digital solutions in the agriculture sector. In this context, innovation and digital technologies are perceived as key enablers to boost productivity and at the same time reduce negative effects causing harm to the environment. Today, the use of digital technologies as means to reinforce the transition toward more sustainable food production has become highly relevant. This is substantiated by a claim that sustainable methods for food production can not be reached if not supported by digital change. The results of this study indicate that digital solutions are used by key industry actors as tools to create change in the physical environment they operate. However, to this date, the sufficient depth and breadth of technologies required to offer a transformative shift in agriculture are challenged with multiple setbacks due to the lack of access to open farm and field data sharing and political involvement to regulate and incentivize this to happen. This thesis uses a qualitative case study design to investigate the role of digital agricultural solutions when shaping the future of farming and food supply networks. Through qualitative in-depth interviews with three key actors involved with digital solutions in agriculture, this study provides insights into the opportunities and challenges of digital agriculture. This thesis aims to explore the interlinkage of sustainability issues, the pressure to increase food production volume and new methods introduced by digitalization. In this way, this thesis provides a better understanding of how these three dimensions work together to shape the future of farming.