The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries

This report examines how disruptive technologies, specifically renewable energy and ICT, can address global food security, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability in low- and middle-income countries, with a specific case study on solar-powered electric cookers in Kenya.

• The report identifies three primary global challenges for food and agriculture systems: the rising demand for nutritious food, the need to adapt to changing ecological and weather conditions while minimizing environmental harm, and the economic vulnerability of farmers and farmworkers who face poverty and chronic hunger.
• The authors analyze how three specific technological areas—off-grid electrification via solar photovoltaics (PV), advancements in battery capacity and performance, and the data revolution in information and communication technology (ICT)—can improve the sustainability and resilience of agriculture in low- and middle-income countries.
• The study includes an evaluation of the feasibility of electric cookers powered by solar irrigation systems and assesses their effect on social inclusion and gender equality within rural households in Kenya.

APA

Smaller,, L. B. B. B. L. M. S. ,. (2020). The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology

Chicago

Smaller,, Livia Bizikova,Sarah Brewin,Richard Bridle,Tara Laan,Sophia Murphy,Lourdes Sanchez ,Carin. The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/publications/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Smaller, |first1=Livia Bizikova,Sarah Brewin,Richard Bridle,Tara Laan,Sophia Murphy,Lourdes Sanchez ,Carin |title=The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=30 July 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{smaller2020sustainable, author = {Smaller,, Livia Bizikova,Sarah Brewin,Richard Bridle,Tara Laan,Sophia Murphy,Lourdes Sanchez ,Carin}, title = {{The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }