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

The report examines the potential of solar PV, batteries, and ICT to transform agriculture in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights applications such as solar-powered irrigation, precision agriculture, and indoor farming, noting that while these technologies can reduce environmental harm and increase yields, they face barriers like high upfront costs and data privacy risks. The authors recommend government interventions in regulation, financing, and capacity-building to ensure inclusive and sustainable adoption.

• Global food and agriculture systems are facing three interconnected challenges: rising demand for nutritious food, the need to adapt to climate change while reducing environmental degradation, and the economic vulnerability of farm workers.
• The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has dropped significantly, falling 88% between 2009 and 2018, which enables off-grid electrification for small-scale producers.
• Advanced lithium-ion batteries have become more affordable and efficient than lead-acid batteries, with costs decreasing by 87% from 2010 to 2019.
• ICT is increasing accessibility for small-scale producers through reduced costs, the spread of mobile devices, and the democratization of information, allowing better access to weather forecasts, market prices, and financial services.
• Solar-powered irrigation can significantly increase yields and incomes, but high upfront costs remain a barrier, often costing 5 to 15 times more than diesel equivalents initially.
• There is a risk that solar-powered irrigation may lead to the over-extraction of water resources because the low recurring costs provide no economic incentive for conservative water use.
• Precision agriculture uses sensors and GPS to optimize inputs and reduce waste, but its adoption in low- and middle-income countries is hindered by high costs, skill deficits, and concerns over data ownership.
• Indoor agriculture, including hydroponics and vertical farming, allows food production in areas with land or water scarcity and can dramatically reduce water use, though it is highly energy-intensive.
• To maximize the benefits of these technologies, governments should implement regulations on data privacy, provide targeted subsidies for high upfront costs, and establish financial literacy programs to prevent farmer indebtedness.

APA

Bizikova, L., Brewin, S., Bridle, R., Laan, T., Murphy, S., Sanchez, L., & Smaller, C. (2020). The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology.pdf

Chicago

Bizikova, Livia, Sarah Brewin, Richard Bridle, Tara Laan, Sophia Murphy, Lourdes Sanchez, and Carin Smaller. The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bizikova |first1=Livia |last2=Brewin |first2=Sarah |last3=Bridle |first3=Richard |last4=Laan |first4=Tara |last5=Murphy |first5=Sophia |last6=Sanchez |first6=Lourdes |last7=Smaller |first7=Carin |title=The Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Technology options for low- and middle-income countries |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bizikova2020sustainable, author = {Bizikova, Livia and Brewin, Sarah and Bridle, Richard and Laan, Tara and Murphy, Sophia and Sanchez, Lourdes and Smaller, 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/system/files/2020-08/sustainable-agriculture-transition-technology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }