The ICTforAg forum, held as an interactive virtual event on 9-10 March, examined how information technology can strengthen agricultural and food systems in low- and middle-income countries. Several speakers pointed to Web3 — described as the third generation of the internet — as a decentralised, blockchain-based model that could shift control of data back to users and change traditional data models.
Rikin Gandhi, co-founder and executive director at Digital Green, said farmer data is often kept in repository systems run by private companies or governments, which can restrict farmers' choices and access to services. Digital Green argued that Web3 could help realise data sovereignty, the principle that data is subject to the laws of the country where it is located, and that farmer organisations should be able to decide how their data is shared, controlled and sometimes monetised.
Henry Kinyua, Digital Green's East Africa head, described FarmStack, a suite of tools for peer-to-peer, decentralised sharing. FarmStack lets data providers and farmers set clear policies on how data can be shared, for how long and with whom, and it helps organisations identify data needs, improve services and connect farmers through co-operatives and partners to support ownership and governance.
Alexander Valeton of Yielder urged a bottom-up approach to digitalisation, saying monetising data should not be the main focus and warning against assuming every new Western technology will transform agriculture in developing countries. He added that innovations must meet farmers' needs, be user-friendly, economical and effective, and aim to reduce hunger and poverty in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Delegates also heard about Digital Green's video-based advisory service, made in local languages, which has reached about 2.3 million farmers, mostly in India, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Difficult words
- decentralised — organised without a single central authority
- blockchain-based — built using a secure shared digital ledger
- data sovereignty — principle that data follows local laws
- monetise — turn something into a source of incomemonetised
- peer-to-peer — direct exchange between equal participants
- co-operative — organisation owned and run by membersco-operatives
- governance — the systems that direct and control something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Should farmer organisations be able to decide how their data is shared or monetised? Why or why not?
- What obstacles might prevent technologies like Web3 or FarmStack from helping farmers in low- and middle-income countries?
- How could video-based advisory services in local languages affect farmers' access to information and services?
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