Supporting and practising digital innovation with advisers in smart farming

Publication date: Available online 15 May 2019Source: NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life SciencesAuthor(s): Margaret Ayre, Vivienne Mc Collum, Warwick Waters, Peter Samson, Anthony Curro, Ruth Nettle, Jana-Axinja Paschen, Barbara King, Nicole ReicheltAbstractThe promise of technology development in agriculture is well publicised with some claiming that digital disruption will transform the way farming and food production is done in the future. For farm advisers, engaging in smart farming involves managing the proliferation of new forms of information, new knowledge and networks and new technical devices that produce digitised representations of farm performance. The nature and effects of digital practices in particular poses challenges for farm advisers as they seek to understand how digital tools and services can be integrated into their service delivery for improved farm decision making. In this paper we present insights from a co-design process with private farm advisers and ask: What enables farm advisers to engage with digital innovation? And, how can digital innovation be supported and practiced in smart farming contexts? Digital innovation presents challenges for farmers and advisers due to the new relationships, skills, arrangements, techniques and devices required to realise value for farm production and profitability from digital tools and services. We show how a co-design process supported farm advisers to adapt their routine advisory practices through recognising a...

Source: NJAS Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences - May 16, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research