Navigating the Twilight Zone : Pathways towards digital transformation of food systems

Abstract

Introduction 1.1 The digital transformation of food systems is in a twilight zone 1.2 The need for a paradigm shift to navigate through the twilight zone 1.3 Responsible research and innovation looked through five lenses 2 Five lenses to be used for navigating the twilight zone 2.1 Business models in the data economy 2.1.1 Data economy and economies of digitalisation 2.1.2 Digitalisation and business models: the micro questions 2.1.3 The meta questions: values and currencies 2.1.4 Ecosystem thinking 2.1.5 Cultivating data ecosystems 2.1.6 Implications for navigating the twilight zone: 2.2 Responsible Data Sharing 2.2.1 The (un)willingness to share data 2.2.2 Fair data markets 2.2.3 Autonomy and control 2.2.4 Care for the commons 2.2.5 Trust 2.2.6 Implications for navigating the twilight zone 2.3 Digital Inclusiveness 2.3.1 Digital infrastructure -availability and affordability 2.3.2 Capabilities -awareness, abilities, and agency 2.3.3 Technological design and power 2.3.4 System complexity 2.3.5 Inclusiveness and exclusiveness as a choice?2.3.6 Implications for navigating the twilight zone Navigating the Twilight Zone -pathways towards digital transformation of food systems | 3 2.4 Integrative Artificial Intelligence 2.4.1 The big data gap 2.4.2 Privacy-preserving AI 2.4.3 Knowledge re-use 2.4.4 Transparency and explainability 2.4.5 An "integration first" approach to AI 2.4.6 Implications for navigating the twilight zone 2.5 Cross-Sectoral Integration 2.5.1 Rural development 2.5.2 Food and Health 2.5.3 Circularity and logistics 2.5.4 Water management 2.5.5 Citizen dialogue platforms 2.5.6 Implications for navigating the twilight zone: 3 A multidisciplinary, collaborative, agile approach for navigating the twilight zone 3.1 Requirements for a multidisciplinary, collaborative, agile approach 3.2 A multidisciplinary, collaborative, agile project approach 3.3 Connecting the dots by Digital Innovation Hubs 4 Conclusions and recommendations 4.1 Conclusions 4.2 Recommendations for a responsible and sustainable digital transformation of food systems 4.

Towards Trusted Data Sharing and Exchange in Agro-Food Supply Chains: Design Principles for Agricultural Data Spaces

“…Modern food IT systems are complex and must often be tailored to meet the needs of a single user or group of users before data can be shared externally [48]. On the other hand, data within DEs are shared digitally, possessing public good properties [29] that allow others to access it according to a specific data economy model.…”

“…Challenge(s) Addressed Proposed Solution(s) [48] Insufficient farmers' understanding of access control policies and frameworks, the administrative burden of signing data sharing agreements, fear from data abuse and competitive advantage - [50] Data sets handled as trade secrets for data protection…”

The Role of Urban–Rural Connections in Building Food System Resilience

“…Urban areas often have better-developed 'digital ecosystems' in terms of resources, skills, and networks. In comparison, the development of IT infrastructure in rural areas is more costly and, therefore, lagging, which leads to the so-called digital divide [77]. Combined with global trends of urbanisation and middle-and high-income classes settling in cities, there is a risk of digitalization exacerbating existing disparities [75].…”

“…In the agri-food sector, digitalization dates back to the 1980s [77] and includes the use of diverse technologies throughout the agri-food chain, e.g., remote-sensing, computing, and modelling in production but also platforms facilitating access to inputs, market, finance, and training [75,77]. Most developments in the digitalization of agriculture are currently foreseen in rural communities in middle-and low-income countries.…”