Digital Tools usability

A diversity of tools is used in the showcases, covering most of the range of existing digital technologies and supporting a diversity of operations on the farm. They are mainly related to the first two levels of agroecological transformation, i.e., better efficiency of inputs and substitution of conventional inputs by alternatives (incremental transformation). Some benefits are clearly perceived and/or expected regarding: time saving, visualisation of data, support to decision, better monitoring and work organisation, better exchange of knowledge and experiences between farmers and with other stakeholders (advisors, tech providers and consumers). 
A common expectation is the need for compatibility and interoperability with the devices and tools already available. 
Even if digitalisation is mainly perceived as positive by the showcases, some barriers to digital tools uptake are clearly identified. The main barriers to the use of DTs are related to economic aspects (high investment cost and uncertainty related to return on investment), complexity, lack of know-how or knowledge about the existing tools and unsuitability of equipment.
According to showcases participants, there are also risks that the development of digitalisation leads to dependencies on companies and exclusion of farmers due to their socio-economic and/or cultural characteristics/conditions.
All these aspects have to be addressed when developing new digital solutions to support agroecology transition.

Recommendations for tech providers​

Any tech providers that is willing to develop a solution to support farmers in their agroecological transition must first understand and consider agroecology as a paradigm of transformation, based on principles, transition processes, that are context-dependent, and where the farmers’ implication is paramount.
The results of PATH2DEA activities allowed to come up with a series of recommendations for tech providers (and other stakeholders) to consider when developing solutions for agroecology:

• Consider the 13 Agroecology principles and levels of Gliessman’s scale from the beginning of the design of any new digital solution.
• Think about cost-efficient solution: Overcoming the economic barrier is a priority, with special attention to smallholder farmers. Complementary to incentives from governments and public administrations, DTs providers must build economic-efficient solutions and business models, taking advantage of all possible synergies with other existing tools and networks.
• Integrate usability aspects to keep it simple: Compatibility and interoperability are keys, but also consideration of daily practical context of use of the solution.
• Characterise the situations that can be properly addressed by a specific solution/integrate complexity of agroecological systems: Agroecology, more than other agricultural systems, requires a high context specific approach. DTs should consider a set of locations and context specific parameters to address this complex production system. 
• Connect to networks, develop collaboration and co-creation approaches: Producers organizations/association/cooperatives and advisory stakeholders play a significant role in the adoption of DTs. DTs developers and providers should connect with them from the early stages of the development process to favour end-user centred innovation process as close as possible to co-creation approaches and to prepare the future deployment strategy.
• Favour exchange of knowledge and experiences between actors: DTs strongly contribute to the second agroecology principle “Co-creation and sharing of knowledge”. As a consequence, solutions designed to facilitate communication, exchange of knowledge and experiences between actors are very relevant and require a good understanding of the needs related to agroecological systems. Disseminating the results of real-life conditions tests will provide evidence of the performance of a specific solution and contribute to its adoption. 
• Identify the practical added value of the solution (relative advantage): The adoption of innovation based on DTs needs to clearly identify the benefits of a solution. A deep understanding of agroecological system complexity and of the daily constraints and needs of producers/producers’ organisations/advisors is the basis to properly assess a solution based on DTs and communicate on it. 
• Consider how DTs and associated collected data can allow the development of new knowledge: multi-stakeholder initiatives, including in the field of research programmes, should be developed for the new design and adaptation of DTs.