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The role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in agriculture has grown substantially in recent years in both scale and scope. Expanding broadband connectivity, increasing deployment of the “internet of things” (IoT), enhanced analytics, affordable devices and innovative applications are underpinning what we now call a digital society. This momentum provides stakeholders in the agriculture sector with opportunities to develop, adapt and apply these technologies as e-agriculture solutions. Taking advantage of ICT advancements and innovations is becoming more critical as we look for ways to offset some of the challenges faced by agriculture in a world where we must produce 60 percent more food by 2050. Applying e-agriculture solutions can transform the way we approach these challenges and act as an instrument of change in this sector and help us contribute to the achievement of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Declaration 2017 acknowledges the potential for, and increasing importance of, ICTs for improved food chain efficiency, productivity and sustainability of agriculture, improved animal husbandry practices and for adaptation and mitigation strategies in the context of climate change.

First published in (2015), “Success Stories on Information and Communication Technologies for Agriculture and Rural Development,” has received wide acclaim, and has warranted this updated publication in order to further document case studies where innovative use of ICTs have helped people involved in agriculture and allied fields to become more effective and in many cases increase their productivity and income. The case study solutions covered in this compilation range from food production, supply chain management, advisory services, smart water management, and traceability to deployment of IoTs for sensing and analytics.

The articles are written by the respective authors and are entirely their own views. We have tried to maintain the original narrative style of each contributor. FAO or ITU does not promote or endorse any of the statements, comments and products mentioned in the articles. Thus this is an effort to simply share knowledge on the use of successful ICTs for agriculture initiatives and we expect that this compilation of case studies is read in that spirit.

This is second in a series of publications with the overall aim to promote the use of sustainable information and communication technologies for agriculture and rural development.