Without access to broadband, entire communities are left behind in today’s information-driven economy, particularly those in rural areas. A reformed food system must address the lack of connectivity and related infrastructure to connect communities and create greater opportunities for the rural poor.

Cloud computing can be used to aggregate data from tools like soil sensors, satellite images, and weather stations to help farmers make better decisions about managing their crops and understanding their production environment. Prices are frequently prohibitive in rural areas and developing countries. Nations should be putting a priority on accessibility.

Data collected and shared in real time allow for the determination of patterns such as weather, pinpoint operational inefficiencies, and problems with soil quality.

Soil health is critical for food production. Remote sensing gives the soil moisture data and helps in determining the quantity of moisture in the soil and hence the type of crop that can be grown in the soil. Through remote sensing, farmers can tell where water resources are available for use over a given land and whether the resources are adequate. Land use calculations are equally important, as well as the assessments of crop rotations, and extreme weather. This could allow us to dramatically speed the rate at which we can understand the agricultural system and measure its improvements.

Digital early warning systems help farmers and scientists get ahead of weather forecasts and disasters. The FAO Digital Services Portfolio informs Crop Calendars for more than 130 crops located in 283 agroecological zones in 44 countries; and the FAO Data Lab has been providing recommendations on planting and harvesting during the COVID-19 outbreak. Detailed weather and pest analysis has been a cornerstone of digital agriculture for more than 30 years but is still available to a tiny proportion of farmers.

Digital technologies are changing agriculture and the food system. Examples abound at different stages of the agri-food value chain and can support trade in agriculture and food products, by connecting private sector suppliers to new markets.

The Digital Agriculture Association calls on FAO to lead the globe in creating a next-generation rapid response mechanism to improve the resilience of food systems to disruptive events. Locust attacks, droughts, typhoons, and the pandemic are examples of incidents that have driven rising food prices. Climate change increases the risk of food system disasters. The UN, national governments, crop pathologists, entomologists, meteorologists, and digital agriculture companies should be convened in a rapid response mechanism that meets regularly and has the capacity to forewarn of issues, rapidly assess them and mount responses.

Subsidization of new technologies like electric vehicles and green energy has helped to advance their adoption. In a similar way, support for the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture will advance green and inclusive solutions for the sector.

Local, national, and regional governance systems often involve decades-old regulation systems and don’t recognize new technologies and the systems to accelerate their use for good. Good governance will be central to democratization of precision agriculture that includes good practices to allow sharing and exchange internationally.

Optimizing use of Digital Agriculture can reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture. Digital technologies should be used to maximize soil carbon sequestration, reduce inputs and measure GHG impacts.