Digital Transformation of Agriculture: Priorities and Barriers

Abstract

In the practice of leading countries, digital transformation implies the industry principle of supporting the introduction of new technologies. At the same time, programs and projects can be built both on the principle of introducing any one promising group of technologies in several industries, where it is especially relevant, and provide for the digital transformation of a particular industry through the forced introduction of many technologically heterogeneous solutions that are in demand in a given sector of the economy or social sphere. Digital transformation contributes to solving systemic problems in industries, reorganizing labor and automating routine tasks. Thus, in the electric power industry, the number of accidents at infrastructure facilities is reduced, in construction - the level of injuries at the construction site. Digital products improve coordination within and between organizations and reduce transaction costs. For example, platform solutions in logistics reduce the role of intermediaries, while expanding the possibilities for communication with end users. The digital transformation of agriculture is largely based on the integrated implementation of a number of digital technologies within the interrelated concepts of precision farming and smart agriculture. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of digitalization of agriculture in Latvia. Determine which digital technologies are most in demand in the country's agriculture, study the change in demand for advanced digital technologies, and identify the main constraints for the development of digital agriculture.