Agricultural innovations are advancing rapidly, demanding that professionals and operationsnavigate an increasingly dynamic and complex landscape

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Texas A&M Agrilife Research $587,799 under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) on September 1, 2026.

The award funds research investigating the socioeconomic, cultural, and ethical implications of agricultural digitalization, with focus on digital divides in the Southern U.S. The project develops a research-based framework to identify and address gaps in access to technology, digital literacy, and capacity to utilize emerging agricultural tools. Work includes mapping and modeling perceptions of digital divides; conducting participatory dialogues with producers, extension agents, agricultural specialists, and community leaders to identify barriers and co-design context-specific solutions; exploring mechanisms for workforce development aligned with labor market dynamics and digital literacy; and developing evidence-based recommendations for regional and state programs. The resulting framework will support targeted interventions to address scale-related disadvantages, align workforce development with labor market needs, and strengthen rural economic resilience.

Performance runs through August 31, 2029, with place of performance at College Station, Texas. AFRI is a competitive research grants program supporting research, education, extension, and integrated activities across six farm bill priority areas including Agriculture Systems and Technology and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities.

This accelerated drive for innovation andadaptation will likely exacerbate 'digital divides' -- gaps in access to technology, digital literacy, knowledge asymmetries, and the capacity to effectively utilize emerging tools. While the promiseof digital technologies to increase production and sustainability of operations is exciting toadvocates, there are many scientific, legal, and social concerns that accompany digitalization of theagricultural sector. This research investigates the socioeconomic, cultural, and ethical implicationsof agricultural digitalization grounded in the premise that the accelerated push for innovation isreshaping agricultural labor markets. Focusing on producers, their support networks, andcommunity leaders in the southern U.S., we aim to develop a strategic, research-based frameworkto identify and address the forms and impacts of digital divides through 1) mapping and modelingperceptions of digital divides; 2) engaging producers, extension agents, agricultural specialists, andcommunity leaders in participatory dialogues to identify barriers, explore potential divides, andco-design context-specific solutions; 3) exploring mechanisms that foster adaptable workforcedevelopment – including labor market dynamics and digital literacy; and 4) developing evidence basedrecommendations for regional and state programs that foster communication andcollaboration among affected and potentially affected groups. The resulting framework will supporttargeted interventions to improve digital divides, address scale-related disadvantages, alignworkforce development with labor market needs, and strengthen rural economic resilience.