Future of Food : Harnessing Digital Technologies to Improve Food System Outcomes
Digital technologies have significant potential to improve efficiency, equity, and environmental sustainability in the food system. A range of digital technologies are already leading to: better informed and engaged consumers and producers, smarter...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2019
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/941601554962010560/Future-of-Food-Harnessing-Digital-Technologies-to-Improve-Food-System-Outcomes http://hdl.handle.net/10986/31565 |
| Summary: | Digital technologies have significant
potential to improve efficiency, equity, and environmental
sustainability in the food system. A range of digital
technologies are already leading to: better informed and
engaged consumers and producers, smarter farms, and improved
public services. Adoption of digital technologies varies
significantly across countries, with lower current adoption
rates in low-income countries. Increasing adoption will
require addressing supply-side factors, such as rural
network coverage and availability of digital applications,
and demand-side factors, including skills and knowledge,
trust, affordability, and complementary investments. While
digital technologies have significant potential they also
pose several risks that need to be addressed including: an
overconcentration of service provider market power; lack of
data privacy; exclusion; and cybersecurity breaches. These
risks cut across all segments of the economy, including the
food system. In addition, digital technologies should not be
viewed as a panacea. Other investments are needed to address
the multiple constraints farmers face and to realize the
potential benefits of digital technologies. |
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