The digital transformation of agriculture, often termed “Agriculture 4.0,” promises to revolutionize food production through technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics. This paradigm shift holds the potential to address pressing global challenges, including the need to increase food production by 60% by 2050, optimize resource use under climate change, and enhance supply chain resilience. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities inherent in this transformation by synthesizing data from a systematic review of 150 peer-reviewed articles, 30 industry reports, and five in-depth case studies of digital adoption across different farm scales and geographies. Our findings reveal significant opportunities: precision agriculture technologies can boost yields by 10-20% and reduce water and fertilizer use by 15-30%; AI-driven predictive analytics can mitigate crop loss from pests and diseases; and blockchain can enhance food traceability and farmer incomes. However, formidable challenges impede widespread adoption. The high capital investment required creates a substantial “digital divide,” disproportionately excluding smallholder farmers who produce a third of the world's food. Issues of data ownership, privacy, and interoperability between platforms remain largely unresolved. Furthermore, a significant skills gap and inadequate rural digital infrastructure act as critical barriers. We conclude that while the digital transformation presents a monumental opportunity for creating a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient agricultural sector, its benefits are not automatic. Realizing its full potential requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach involving targeted policy interventions, public-private partnerships, investments in digital literacy and infrastructure, and the development of inclusive, affordable technologies. Without these, the agricultural digital revolution risks exacerbating existing inequalities and leaving behind the very producers who are most in need of innovation.

digital agriculture, digitized agricultural machinery (DAM), central processing systems (CPS), agricultural models, digital earth

geodesy engineering

Presentation: poster