The urgency of addressing global food insecurity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has never been more pronounced than now. The confluence of climate change, geopolitical instability and the lingering impacts of inequality in economic growth has exposed the fragility of global food security and the achievement of the SDGs. Digitalisation offers a transformative pathway to build more resilient, efficient and sustainable food systems, capable of feeding a growing global population while minimising environmental impact. Recognising this potential, the past three G20 presidencies – Indonesia, India and Brazil – committed to concerted efforts to leverage digital technologies for accelerated food security and the achievement of the SDGs.

Five factors underscore the critical need for digital transformation in agri-food systems to ensure food security in the Global South.

1. Enhanced productivity and efficiency: Digital tools enable farmers to make data-driven decisions regarding planting, irrigation, fertilisation and pest management, leading to increased yields and reduced input costs. Precision agriculture technologies, for instance, optimise resource use, minimise environmental impact and maximise output. They are related to SDG3.
2. Improved market access and inclusivity: Digital platforms are connecting smallholder farmers directly with markets, reducing reliance on intermediaries and increasing their income. This is closely related to SDG5. Mobile-based information services provide women farmers with real-time market prices, weather forecasts and best practices, empowering them to make informed decisions.
3. Enhanced sustainability and resilience: Digital technologies can facilitate the adoption of sustainable farming practices, such as conservation agriculture and reduced pesticide use, which are critical for achieving SDG8. Remote sensing and data analytics can monitor land health, water resources and biodiversity, enabling targeted interventions. Furthermore, digital supply chains can improve traceability and reduce food loss and waste, contributing to more resilient food systems.
4. Strengthened food security and nutrition: By optimising production, improving distribution and reducing waste, digitalisation contributes directly to enhanced food security and thus SDG 1, 2 and 3. Digital platforms can also facilitate the delivery of nutritional information and promote healthier dietary choices.
5. Data-driven policymaking: The vast amounts of data generated through digital agri-food systems can provide policymakers with valuable insights, enabling evidence-based decision-making and the design of more effective agricultural policies and interventions. They are crucial for SDG 14 and 17.

The G20, as a forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies, is uniquely positioned to champion the adoption of digitalisation in agri-food systems. By establishing a clear policy framework under the stewardship of South Africa, the G20 can catalyse national efforts, foster international collaboration and mobilise the necessary investments to unlock the transformative power of technology SDGs.

To effectively harness the potential of digitalisation for accelerated food security and SDG achievement, the G20 South Africa presidency should adopt a comprehensive policy framework encompassing the following recommendations.

• Develop an action plan built upon a digital–innovation–sustainability nexus approach to advance SDGs. The G20 should spearhead the development of a multi-year action plan that recognises the interconnectedness of digitalisation, data utilisation, sustainability and innovation in transforming agri-food systems. This action plan should:
  • Promote the development and adoption of digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas, recognising the digital divide as a major barrier to reaching the SDGs. This includes investments in broadband internet, mobile networks and affordable digital devices.
  • Establish frameworks for responsible data governance and sharing in the food sector. This involves developing guidelines for data privacy, security, interoperability and ethical use, while ensuring that farmers and other stakeholders retain ownership of and control over their data.
  • Incentivise the development and deployment of digital innovations that promote sustainable food production and other industrial practices, such as climate-smart agriculture, efficient water management and biodiversity conservation. This can be achieved through research and development funding, innovation challenges and regulatory sandboxes.
  • Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among G20 member countries on best practices, lessons learned and successful digital agriculture initiatives. This can involve establishing a G20 digital agriculture platform for information exchange and capacity building.
  • Integrate digital agriculture and food resilience strategies into national SDG implementation plans, ensuring that digitalisation efforts contribute directly to achieving targets related to food security, poverty reduction, climate action and sustainable consumption and production.
• Support national institutional and financial capacity building that enables women and youth to apply innovative technologies to enhance productivity and accelerate attainment of the SDGs. Empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, with the skills and knowledge to use digital technologies is crucial for ensuring inclusive and equitable transformation. The G20 working groups should advocate for and support:
  • Investing in digital literacy and skills development programmes tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers. This includes training on using digital tools for farm management, market access, financial literacy and sustainable practices, and financing them with adequate budget outlays.
  • Promoting the development of user-friendly and affordable digital solutions that address the specific challenges faced by smallholder farmers. This requires engaging farmers in the design and development process, as well as innovative private financing mechanisms to ensure relevance, usability and marketability.
  • Strengthening agricultural extension and financial services by equipping extension workers with digital tools as well as financial mechanisms, and training them to provide digital advisory and financial services to farmers. This can enhance the reach and effectiveness of extension and financial services.
  • Supporting the establishment of farmer cooperatives and digital farmer organisations with adequate public–private financial mechanisms to facilitate collective learning, access to digital resources and negotiation power in digital marketplaces.
  • Developing targeted programmes to encourage the participation of women and youth in digital agriculture, addressing gender-specific technology and financial barriers and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
• Establishing an international governance structure to support a digitally enabled virtual food reserve. To enhance food security and resilience against shocks, the G20 should explore the establishment of an international governance structure to support digitally enabled virtual food reserves. G20 Sherpas would look into the following:
  • Developing common standards and protocols for data collection and sharing related to national and regional food stocks, production forecasts and logistical capacities.
  • Facilitating the interoperability of national and regional digital platforms for food stock management, enabling real-time monitoring and information exchange.
  • Establishing a framework for coordinated action in response to food crises, leveraging digital information to identify needs, allocating resources efficiently and facilitating cross-border food assistance.
  • Promoting research into and development of digital tools for predictive analytics to anticipate potential food shortages and inform proactive measures.
  • Ensuring transparency and accountability in the operation of virtual food reserves through robust governance mechanisms and data sharing protocols.

By adopting a comprehensive policy framework centred on the digital-data–sustainability–innovation nexus, investing in capacity building for smallholder farmers and establishing an international governance structure for digitally enabled virtual food reserves, the G20 can play a pivotal role in unlocking this transformative potential. Embracing this digital future for agriculture is not merely an option but a necessity for accelerating and achieving the SDG targets by 2030.