Artificial intelligence, systemic risks, and sustainability

Technology in Society, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 67, С. 101741 - 101741

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2021

Automated decision making and predictive analytics through artificial intelligence, in combination with rapid progress technologies such as sensor technology robotics are likely to change the way individuals, communities, governments private actors perceive respond climate ecological change. Methods based on various forms of intelligence already today being applied a number research fields related environmental monitoring. Investments into applications these agriculture, forestry extraction marine resources also seem be increasing rapidly. Despite growing interest in, deployment AI-technologies domains critical for sustainability, few have explored possible systemic risks depth. This article offers global overview sectors high impact potential sustainability like farming, resources. We identify including a) algorithmic bias allocative harms; b) unequal access benefits; c) cascading failures external disruptions, d) trade-offs between efficiency resilience. explore emerging risks, questions, discuss limitations current governance mechanisms addressing AI sectors.

Язык: Английский

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Future agricultural systems and the role of digitalization for achieving sustainability goals. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 42(4)

Опубликована: Июль 6, 2022

By leveraging a wide range of novel, data-driven technologies for agricultural production and agri-food value chains, digital agriculture presents potential enhancements to sustainability across food systems. Accordingly, has received considerable attention in policy recent years, with emphasis mostly placed on the improve efficiency, productivity security, less given how digitalization may impact other principles sustainable development, such as biodiversity conservation, soil protection, human health, example. Here, we review high-level law German European context highlight number important institutional, societal, legal preconditions achieve diverse targets. Additionally, combine foresight analysis our reflect future frame conditions influencing could conceivably arise. The major points are following: (1) some polices consider benefits agriculture, although only limited extent terms resource use efficiency; (2) it applies is emerging but highly fragmented; (3) adoption if used enhance will be dependent data ownership regimes.

Язык: Английский

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What are the priority research questions for digital agriculture?

Land Use Policy, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 114, С. 105962 - 105962

Опубликована: Янв. 8, 2022

There is a need to identify key existing and emerging issues relevant digitalisation in agricultural production that would benefit from stronger evidence base help steer policy formulation. To address this, prioritisation exercise was undertaken priority research questions concerning digital agriculture the UK, but with view also informing international contexts. The uses an established effective participatory methodology for capturing ordering wide range of views. method involves identifying large number participants eliciting initial long list which reduced refined subsequent voting stages select top priorities by theme. Participants were selected using purposive sampling snowballing represent sectors, organisations, companies disciplines across UK. They each invited submit up 10 according certain criteria, this resulted 195 40 (largely England some representation Scotland Wales). Preliminary analysis clustering these through iterative identified seven themes as follows: data governance; management; enabling use technologies; understanding benefits uptake optimising technologies performance; impacts agriculture; new collaborative arrangements. Subsequent voting, online ranking participant workshop in-depth discussion, total 27 categorised into 15 gold, 7 silver 5 bronze, themes. significantly enrich extend previous agenda setting literature sources, provide perspectives. highlights interconnectedness questions, proposes two nexus future research: different dimensions value, social institutional arrangements support agriculture. These emphasise importance interdisciplinarity transdisciplinarity, tackle binary nature current analytical frames. insights are equally contexts outside This paper actions inform policy, not only instrumentally strengthening base, conceptually, prompt thinking. our knowledge has been previously applied topic.

Язык: Английский

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Research on the Impact of Digital Agriculture Development on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity

Land, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 12(1), С. 195 - 195

Опубликована: Янв. 7, 2023

In this study, to discover how the growth of digital agriculture has impacted agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP), we take panel data from 2011 2019 for 30 Chinese provinces as research object, measure AGTFP and development using SBM-ML entropy method, use a fixed effect model analyze effects on AGTFP. The results demonstrate that (1) time-series characteristics, presented steady state 2019; (2) during study period, technical efficiency index was slightly lower than technological progress in index, meaning there is room further development; (3) relationship between presents an inverted U-shaped curve, with human capital playing moderating role. Finally, corresponding countermeasures are proposed four aspects: strengthening construction organizational mechanisms, building standardized base output, enhancing traceability certification products, improving social services industry.

Язык: Английский

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Digital tools and agricultural market transformation in Africa: Why are they not at scale yet, and what will it take to get there?

Food Policy, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 116, С. 102439 - 102439

Опубликована: Март 16, 2023

Despite enthusiasm for the potential of digital innovations to transform agricultural markets in Africa, progress made thus far has been limited small-scale experiments that often fail scale up. Realizing full – tools, technologies, applications, and services Africa requires not just further development these solutions at meaningful scales, but also more nuanced evidence from both successful unsuccessful scaling efforts. This paper reviews conceptual empirical on transformative African with an in-depth examination have rolled out date continent. Specifically, review addresses following questions: (i) how can improve functioning Africa? (ii) what explains apparent disconnect most pilots scale-ups? (iii) is required realize their potential? (iv) are emerging risks opportunities associated marketing? Although our landscape literature market-focused identifies several reasons remain optimistic, prevailing between scale-ups merits evaluation. In particular, there a need systematic assessments successes failures piloting stages.

Язык: Английский

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A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Relationship between Digital Technology Use and Agricultural Productivity in EU Countries

Agriculture, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(4), С. 519 - 519

Опубликована: Март 25, 2024

Amidst the rapid evolution of digital technologies and their prospective implications for agricultural productivity, farmers are increasingly turning to Agriculture 4.0. As digitization permeates every facet agriculture, potential boosting productivity while ensuring sustainability resilience becomes tangible. The objective this study is understand how adoption influences within diverse socioeconomic landscapes EU nations. research aims address questions concerning impact technology use on across countries. This employs a robust analytical framework combining equation modeling (SEM), artificial neural networks, cluster analysis. SEM analysis reveals significant associations between related total labor force Moreover, outlines distinct clusters member states distinguished by varying degrees incorporation corresponding emphasizing contexts that influence these associations. These findings underscore significance embracing as catalyst enhancing Future could focus devising strategies promote widespread in agriculture states, longitudinal analyses offer insights into dynamic relationship output, informing policy interventions.

Язык: Английский

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Harnessing generative artificial intelligence to support nature‐based solutions

People and Nature, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 6(2), С. 882 - 893

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2024

Abstract The ongoing biodiversity and climate change crises require society to adopt nature‐based solutions that integrate enhance ecosystems. To achieve successful implementation of solutions, it is vital communicate scientific information about their benefits suitability. This article explores the potential generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a tool for automating scaling up science communication, outreach, extension solutions. illustrate GenAI, we present three case study examples; (1) reporting on ecosystem services, future land use options, farms (2) interactively providing guidance in response homeowner questions biodiversity‐friendly garden design (3) visualising scenarios landscape incorporate diverse nature based technological These examples demonstrate applications which may be relevant other systems types While GenAI offers significant opportunities, this new technology brings risks bias, false information, data privacy, mistrust, high energy usage. Alongside development, integrated social research into ethics, public acceptability, user experience, maximise while limiting these risks. an opportunity accelerate dissemination strategies reach broader audience, by synthesising producing tailored content specific users locations. By harnessing power alongside human expertise, can support tackle complex challenges sustainability. Read free Plain Language Summary Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Patterns of Inequalities in Digital Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review

Sustainability, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 13(22), С. 12345 - 12345

Опубликована: Ноя. 9, 2021

Digitalization of agriculture is often hailed as the next agricultural revolution. However, little yet known about its social impacts and power effects. This review addresses this research gap by analyzing patterns inequality linked to development adoption digital technologies in reviewing strategies developed reduce these inequalities challenge relations which they are embedded. Analysis 84 publications found through a systematic literature identified five inequality: (1) technology development; (2) distribution benefits from use technologies; (3) sovereignty over data, hardware infrastructure; (4) skills knowledge (‘digital literacy’); (5) problem definition problem-solving capacities. also highlights existence emancipatory initiatives that applying existing advance alternative visions agriculture. These underscore political nature agriculture; however, their reach still quite limited. partly due fact structural represent expressions corporate power. From such perspective, digitalization not ‘revolution’ per se; rather, mirror reproduce relations.

Язык: Английский

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Using crop diversity to lower pesticide use: Socio-ecological approaches

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 804, С. 150156 - 150156

Опубликована: Сен. 6, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Are farmers ready to use phone-based digital tools for agronomic advice? Ex-ante user readiness assessment using the case of Rwandan banana farmers

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 29(1), С. 29 - 51

Опубликована: Окт. 8, 2021

Purpose Digital extension is widely embraced in African agricultural development, promising unprecedented outcomes and impact. Especially phone-based services attract attention as tools for effective efficient extension. To date, assessments of digital are generally ex-post nature, thus consideration users broader systems occurs once an intervention broadly identified. However, early understanding user needs, readiness, relevant context a prerequisite successful adoption sustainable use services. We conducted ex-ante assessment readiness (UR) services.Design/Methodology/Approach developed framework to assess UR, considering capabilities, opportunities, motivations targeted users. The case study Rwandan banana farmers served verify the UR framework, using survey data from 690 smallholder farmers.Findings Findings demonstrate limited capacity access services, especially those requiring smartphone, mismatch between expected actual current capabilities opportunities. provide entry points designing suitable projects interventions, suggesting need building.Practical implications UR-framework provided about limitations farmer This approach explore before interventions recommended. It at importance embedding technologies into existing practices creating blends 'digital' 'analogue' or 'high-tech' 'low-tech'.Theoretical provides structured developing pre-intervention insights use-context, supporting informed strategizing decision-making addition frameworks, participatory design methods, performance assessments, part balanced level assessment.Originality/Value first context, attempt analyse farmers'

Язык: Английский

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