26 CADERNOS DE ANÁLISE E PROSPETIVA CULTIVAR N.º 33 ABRIL 2025 – Dados na agricultura ments weaken the public value of data. Strengthening foundational infrastructure, such as land registries, farm-level survey systems, and integrated dashboards, requires coordination among public agencies, development partners, and the private sector. This alignment is key to enabling innovation, ensuring relevance, and avoiding duplication. Learning from Emerging Models in our Network Initiatives led by the Global Partnership and our network are showing what this transformation can look like in practice. The 50x2030 Initiative provides a compelling example of how agricultural data systems can evolve. A collaboration between FAO, IFAD, and the World Bank, the initiative aims to close agricultural data gaps in 50 LMICs by 2030. What sets 50x2030 apart is its strategic shift - from improving data production through standardized tools and training to actively supporting data use for policymaking, tailored to national priorities. This includes mapping policy needs, fostering data literacy among decision-makers, and building institutional mechanisms to turn data into action. In Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and beyond, this pivot is helping transform data from a passive asset into a strategic input for food security, rural development, and agricultural competitiveness. In Nigeria, the Visualizing Insights on Fertilizer for African Agriculture (VIFAA) program, implemented by our partners at Development Gateway, demonstrates the value of a systems-oriented approach. By co-developing an integrated fertilizer dashboard that blends public and private data, the program enabled more efficient subsidy targeting and improved logistics across the fertilizer supply chain. This underscores how public-private collaboration, when built on shared goals and transparent data, can deliver tangible policy impact. Meanwhile, the Power of Data initiative, a joint effort led by several UN agencies, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership, is helping countries transition from fragmented data efforts to coordinated, nationally owned strategies. By linking technical priorities with political leadership, these partnerships enable governments to define their own data agendas and mobilize blended financing for system-wide improvements. Cabo Verde offers a compelling example. In 2024, the government joined the Power of Data and convened a landmark event to develop the country’s first National Data Strategy. The conference brought together diverse actors to align around a shared vision. While not focused solely on agriculture, the initiative illustrates how inclusive coordination and strong political commitment can reduce fragmentation and build coherent data governance. Notably, Cabo Verde committed to funding both the strategy and its implementation - a promising model for countries seeking to unlock the full value of their data. Taken together, these efforts reflect a broader shift: away from isolated datasets and toward long-term, country-led reforms that embed data into decision-making at every level. If supported and scaled thoughtfully, they offer a roadmap for how the digital transformation of agriculture can be both inclusive and impactful. Toward Smarter Governance for a Digital Agriculture Future As AI becomes embedded in every layer of the agricultural system, from yield prediction to market access, the call for inclusive, accountable data governance grows stronger. The UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI has emphasized the need for globally coordinated mechanisms that maximize benefits while managing risks. In agriculture, this translates into ensuring that algorithmic decision-making never replaces human judgment on matters of land, food, and livelihoods. The future of agriculture will be shaped by data, but the outcomes will be determined by the governance choices we make today. Strong, inclusive agricultural data systems are not just a means to generate better statistics. They are the foundation for building food systems that are equitable, sustainable, and resilient to future shocks. That future will require: • Nationally led digital strategies that prioritize data use and protect public value; • Financing models that combine public and private support while recognizing the shared value of agricultural data; • Multilateral coordination to support country leadership and forge shared standards; And above all, systems that transform data into decisions, by empowering producers, informing policies, and anchoring digital innovation in the realities of rural life. If we get this right, the value won’t lie in the data itself, but in how it is applied, by producers optimizing their practices and by policymakers shaping more resilient, inclusive food systems. The true impact of digitalization in agriculture and forestry will come not from the volume of information we collect, but from our ability to transform it into knowledge, decisions, and actions that serve both people and the planet.
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