Policy related to digitalization of agriculture in the Global South: Comparative insights from West Africa and Latin America
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Since the mid-2010s, the digitalization of agriculture has emerged as an issue in the political agendas of many countries in the Global South. Presented by its promoters as a “new agricultural revolution”, digitalization is expected to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. Yet, this vision is largely shaped by a modernist and technicist narrative, supported by global digital actors and agribusiness suppliers' firms and translated into public policies that vary across contexts but share common trends. This paper analyzes the construction of agricultural digitalization policies in West Africa and Latin America, focusing on the actors involved, the policy instruments mobilized, and their implications for family farming inclusion. Based on a comparative analysis of policy documents and programs, the study highlights both convergences and divergences between regions. In both cases, the digital agenda was initially driven by Ministries of Telecommunications or Science and Technology, with agricultural ministries engaging only recently. Three policy configurations emerge: (1) general digital strategies with no agricultural component; (2) cross-sectoral digital agendas with partial agricultural integration; and (3) specific agricultural digitalization strategies led by agricultural ministries. Across both regions, governments deploy a diverse set of policy instruments— normative, organizational, incentive-based, and capacity-building. Normative instruments include data protection regulations and digital identification systems that formalize producers' digital and financial inclusion but also raise concerns about surveillance and exclusion. Organizational instruments—such as Brazil's Agriculture 4.0 Commission or Chile's Rural Connectivity Roundtable—seek interministerial coordination. Incentive-based instruments promote connectivity and digital Innovation ecosystems, often through public–private partnerships or international cooperation. Capacity-building programs target both producers and agri-professionals, aiming to foster digital literacy and innovation skills. The findings reveal that digitalization processes remain deeply shaped by local social, economic, institutional contexts. While digital technology adoption is high —particularly referring to use of social media through mobile phone—farmers tend to favor flexible, familiar, and trust-based tools over specialized agricultural applications. This suggests that the most effective digital transitions build upon existing practices rather than imposing disruptive technologies. The paper concludes that designing inclusive digitalization policies ask for considering users' everyday digital habits and their organizational realities. It calls for future research on the sustainability of digital tools, the role of the State in maintaining digital infrastructures, and the potential contribution of digitalization to agroecological transitions.
Source: HAL
Institutions: Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Acteurs, Ressources et Territoires dans le Développement, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Innovation and Development in Agriculture and Food
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7164270693