The social and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence in agriculture: mapping the agricultural AI literature

Abstract

This paper will examine the social and ethical impacts of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector. It will identify what are some of the most prevalent challenges and impacts identified in the literature, how this correlates with those discussed in the domain of AI ethics, and are being implemented into AI ethics guidelines. This will be achieved by examining published articles and conference proceedings that focus on societal or ethical impacts of AI in the agri-food sector, through a thematic analysis of the literature. The thematic analysis will be divided based on the classifications outlined through 11 overarching principles, from an established lexicon (transparency, justice and fairness, non-maleficence, responsibility, privacy, beneficence, freedom and autonomy, trust, dignity, sustainability, and solidarity). While research on AI agriculture is still relatively new, this paper aims to map the debate and illustrate what the literature says in the context of social and ethical impacts. It aim is to analyse these impacts, based on these 11 principles. This research will contrast which impacts are not being discussed in agricultural AI and which issues are not being discussed in AI ethics guidelines, but which are discussed in relation to agricultural AI. The aim of this is to identify gaps within the agricultural literature, and gaps in AI ethics guidelines, that may need to be addressed.

To the farm, Mars, and beyond: Technologies for growing food in space, the future of long-duration space missions, and earth implications in English news media coverage

“…But what does multiplanetary mean and who gets to speak for Earth as it pertains to food and food sovereignty? These are important considerations when promoting the various technologies, in light of the active ongoing debate around the governance of artificial intelligence and the digitalization of agriculture (Ryan, 2022), research on the ethics, as well as the promise and peril of cultured meat (Chriki and Hocquette, 2020;Newman, 2020), and the questions around the patenting of food through biotechnology (Carolan, 2010). The news media does not appear to be asking these questions in any meaningful capacity.…”

Recommendations for ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in digital agriculture

“…The Market is forecasted to grow from $1.1 billion in 2019 to more than $3.8 billion by 2024 (von See, 2022). AI solutions in agriculture refer to AI algorithms, software, and hardware (e.g., robots) used in farming applications (Ryan, 2022). AI software applications often analyze data to provide forecasts, recommendations, and assistance in decisionmaking to improve farm operations.…”

“…In precision livestock farming, farmers can be informed about the possibility of disease or distress among animals on the farm. For instance, using image recognition tools plant disease can be detected or livestock animal behavior patterns can be monitored to help them with potential health issues (Ryan, 2022). Market demand and forecasting can help farmers adjust the type and amount of production and reach the best profitability.…”

Ethical aspects of AI robots for agri-food; a relational approach based on four case studies

“…While these papers do not focus specifically on ethics, they map societal themes and questions related to the ones we noted in Table 1. And while revising this case study article for publication, another ethics paper was published by Ryan (2022), underlining the ethical issues we identified, based on very different sources: a comparison between publications and conference papers on AI in agrifood and 11 overarching ethical principles for AI that Jobin et al ( 2019) summarized, based on ethical guidelines and principles developed for AI worldwide. In these guidelines and principles, Ryan notes, specific issues that AI raises in agri-food are ignored, such as for example about animal welfare and care for the environment.…”