When I first stepped into the world of international agriculture in the 1980s, there was a real sense of excitement—like we were on the cusp of something big. The technologies we were introducing—email, electronic data transfer, inbound access to our customers computers via x.25, spreadsheets, databases, and early computer systems—seemed to hold incredible promise for improving the lives of millions of poor farmers around the world. That sense of possibility became the foundation of CGNET’s mission: leveraging technology to improve lives in developing countries.

Back then, it was all about Information Technology (IT) – tools that enabled farmers and their support organizations to track data and streamline operations. Soon, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expanded this foundation, incorporating satellites, mobile phones, radios, and the internet to provide farmers and donors with direct access to timely knowledge and markets.

Four decades later—and forty years older—I began to wonder if we’d reached the limits of what focusing on IT could do for agricultural development. Was it time to move beyond preaching the gospel of technology? Concepts like AI had become so mainstream that calling out ‘IT’ as a separate category felt almost outdated. Yet the buzz around digital agriculture kept growing louder—and I couldn’t help but wonder is this just hype, or is something genuinely new unfolding

To clarify this evolution, I partnered with Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT to reassess the journey. Is digital agriculture truly revolutionary, or is it just another funding-driven trend?

Digital Agriculture: A Profound Leap Forward

Unlike ICT, digital agriculture isn’t merely about sharing information—it establishes an interconnected ecosystem of real-time data, tools, and systems, including:

• IoT sensors tracking soil moisture and weather conditions
• Drones mapping fields and precision-targeting inputs
• AI-driven apps diagnosing crop diseases from smartphone photos
• Blockchain for transparent and traceable food supply chains
• Big data platforms predicting yields and market trends

Digital agriculture encompasses the entire agri-food value chain, automating tasks, optimizing decisions, and enhancing transparency and sustainability.

Key Differences Between ICT and Digital Agriculture

As agricultural technology evolves, it’s important to understand the distinction between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Agriculture. While both aim to improve farming outcomes, they differ significantly in scope, tools, and impact.

Scope and Focus

• ICT in agriculture centers on improving access to information and communication—think mobile phones, internet connectivity, and radio services that help farmers make better decisions.
• Digital agriculture goes a step further, integrating advanced technologies like AI, IoT, drones, and robotics directly into the day-to-day operations of farming. The goal is transformation—automating and optimizing the entire agricultural value chain.

Technologies Involved

• ICT uses relatively basic but essential tools: SMS alerts, mobile apps, and online knowledge platforms.
• Digital agriculture layers on more complex systems: sensor networks, remote sensing, cloud platforms, and machine learning algorithms for precision farming and real-time decision-making.

Level of Integration

• ICT tools often serve as standalone supports, providing farmers with timely advice or updates.
• Digital agriculture is deeply embedded into farm infrastructure—monitoring soil in real time, predicting crop diseases, and even automating harvesting through robotics and AI.

Impact and Value Creation

ICT’s strength lies in enhancing communication and knowledge-sharing, enabling more informed decision-making.

Digital agriculture delivers transformative impact: improving productivity, sustainability, and transparency while enabling new services, business models, and data ecosystems within the agri-food sector.

Some Examples

• ICT: Mobile-based weather alerts, SMS for market prices, e-extension advisory services.
• Digital Agriculture: Soil sensors, AI-driven pest detection, autonomous tractors, blockchain-based supply chain tracking.

ICT is foundational, bringing critical communication tools to rural areas. Digital agriculture builds on this foundation, using integrated, data-driven systems to reshape how agriculture is managed, measured, and scaled.

Why This Matters

Digital agriculture isn’t just another tech upgrade – it’s a game-changer. Where ICT helped farmers access information, digital agriculture weaves together the entire ecosystem: land, machinery, data, markets, and even consumers – all working in sync.

Think of it this way:

• ICT got us online.
• Digital agriculture gets us interconnected.

Final Thoughts

Sure, digital agriculture might sound like the latest buzzword—but it just might be the spark for the next green revolution. I’m optimistic that with the right use of advanced technologies, we can build a food system that’s not only more productive, but also sustainable, resilient, and better prepared for the challenges ahead.

With climate pressures intensifying, populations growing, and supply chains getting more complex, this kind of transformation isn’t just welcome – it’s urgently needed.

Have ideas, questions, or thoughts to share? I’d love to hear from you—feel free to reach out anytime at g.*******@***et.com. And if you want more insights like this, subscribe on our website to get regular tips on cybersecurity, IT management, AI tools, and more delivered to your inbox weekly.