Supporting the Implementation of Digital Technology in Global Agricultural Networks - GCP/GLO/029/GER

Of the 570 million farms worldwide, over 90 percent are managed as family farms, which produce 80 percent of the world’s food (in terms of value). Yet, on a global scale, family farmers have little or no access to digital agricultural technology and often suffer from food insecurity themselves. The proper implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT), however, has the potential to not only enhance the production and safety of food, but also create employment opportunities for rural populations, particularly women and youths, and protect natural resources. ICT tools assist smallholder and family farmers to coordinate the planning, monitoring and marketing of produce through the aggregation of information and increase access to advisory, financial, insurance and market-oriented services. Innovative ICTs, additionally, are useful in the development of early warning and disaster risk reduction systems, which support the preparedness and resilience of family farmers. The combination of using ICTs and sharing reliable, time-sensitive data holds great potential for youth entrepreneurship and the alleviation of socioeconomic disadvantages. While ICTs can transform family farming practices and strengthen the security of livelihoods along food value chains, historically, there has been a tendency to ignore the establishment of data governance frameworks and standards as new technologies emerge. The development of policy that facilitates access to ICTs, however, is critical to meeting the current and future demands of agriculture production and supporting the livelihood security of at-risk populations in the agriculture sector.