IICA Report Details Digitalization Status & Urgent Needs in Latin Americanand Caribbean Agriculture

San José, Costa Rica – A new report by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperationon Agriculture (lCA) provides a comprehensive assessment of the digitalizationlandscape within the agricultural sector across Latin America and the Caribbean(LAC), highlighting significant progress but also persistent gaps and urgentreguirements.

The report, titled “Estado de la digitalización del sector agropecuario en AméricaLatina yel Caribe:Perspectivas y propuestas” (State of Digitalization of theAgricultural Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean: Perspectives and Proposals)consolidates findings from 15 countries. Key takeaways include

Uneven Progress:

While some countries and larger producers are adoptingadvanced technologies (loT,Al, drones), widespread digitalization, especially amongsmall and medium-sized farmers, remains limited. Access gaps are significant.

Critical Bottlenecks:

Major barriers identified include inadequate rural connectivity,high costs of technology and services, insufficient digital skills among farmers andextension agents, and fragmented or underdeveloped data ecosystems.

Policy & Institutional Gaps:

The report notes a need for stronger national digitalagriculture strategies, better coordination between institutions, and updatedregulatory frameworks to foster innovation and trust

Focus Areas for Action:

llCA emphasizes the urgent need for massive investmentin rural digital infrastructure, comprehensive capacity building programs, fosteringaccessible and affordable digital solutions tailored to smalholders, and developingrobust data governance models.

Call for Collaboration:

The report underscores the necessity forenhanced regionalcooperation to share knowledge, align standards,and scale successful initiatives efficiently.

lICA’s report serves as a vital call to action for governments, the private sector, andinternational partners to prioritize and invest strategically in overcoming these barriersto harness digitalization for a more productive, resilient, and sustainable agriculturalfuture in LAC