Page 14 - Digital Agriculture: A Standards Snapshot

Digital Agriculture: A Standards Snapshot

Figure 2: Overview of the FG-AI4A Outputs

Demystifying Terminology

Digital agriculture includes in its ambit a variety of specialized terms, concepts and technologies
that may not be familiar to all participants in the standards-making process, including
policymakers, private sector entities, academic experts, and others. A clear understanding of
digital agriculture related terminologies is crucial for developing standards and guidelines,
especially given the diverse range of stakeholders involved.
During the research for the development of this Glossary, the FAO Terminology Portal and
ITU-R/ITU-T Terms and Definitions database. It has been observed that while looking at the
intersection between agriculture and technology, there exists a notable interchangeability of
terminology. Terms including "digital agriculture," "smart agriculture," and "smart farming"
are frequently used synonymously. For the purpose of the Glossary, definitions related to
these terms were included from various sources to ensure that all aspects related to them are
adequately reflected.

Overall, the Glossary created by the Focus Group offers precise definitions, facilitating a shared
understanding of digital agriculture related terms, providing a foundation for further research
and supporting standardization in this field through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Uncovering Gaps: Standards in Digital Agriculture

As digital agriculture could facilitate the adoption of a wide range of technologies—including AI,
IoT, digital twin, unmanned aerial vehicles, digital ledger technologies (DLT) and robotics, there
is a pressing need for standardized guidelines to ensure interoperability, data compatibility,
and security across different systems.

Without these standards, the lack of coherence can lead to fragmented solutions, where
technology types could fail to communicate or integrate efficiently, undermining the overall
effectiveness of digital tools in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

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