Why Digital Innovation Alone Won’t Transform Agriculture

Lauren Milligan By Lauren Milligan|5 August 2026

While digital technologies offer significant potential, they are not a standalone solution for sustainable agriculture. Robert Finger, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy at ETH Zurich, discusses why successful adoption depends on scalability, economic viability, regulatory frameworks, and solutions tailored to specific farming systems worldwide.

Key takeaway:
Technology will be an important tool in sustainable crop protection, but its impact depends on making solutions practical, affordable, and accessible for farmers.

Lauren Milligan is Content Specialist for the Agribusiness Group, including AgriBusiness Global, CropLife, and Women in Ag Tech. Before joining Meister Media Worldwide in 2022, she received a bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State University in 2017 and has worked on newspapers local to Portage and Summit Counties in Ohio.  See all author stories here.