A stocktake of opportunities and knowledge gaps in advancing digital agriculture in Quebec
Abstract
Sustainable development has become a key priority for the agricultural sector, both globally and in Quebec. Digital agriculture, as an important component of sustainable agricultural systems, represents a promising pathway toward achieving sustainable development goals. However, despite the recognized benefits of digital agriculture, the opportunities, limitations, and research gaps associated with its contribution to sustainable development in Quebec remain insufficiently understood. This study applies a systematic tracking approach to identify applications of digital technologies in Quebec’s agricultural sector and evaluate their potential contributions to provincial sustainable development objectives while highlighting gaps and opportunities for their enhanced deployment. A total of 59 peer-reviewed publications and grey literature reports were identified and analyzed. Overall, 14 categories of digital technologies were documented within Quebec’s agricultural sector. Their representation in the scientific literature was primarily concentrated in three dominant categories: web/mobile applications and software (31%), machine learning and sensors (14%), and satellite technologies (13%). The identified digital technologies have significant potential to support sustainable development objectives in Quebec agriculture through improved pesticide monitoring, soil health assessment and conservation, fertilizer management optimization, water-use efficiency, and biodiversity conservation. Collectively, these technologies could be combined in 65 distinct ways to support sustainable development goals; however, only 54% of this potential is currently being exploited in Quebec. This highlights substantial opportunities for expanding the role of digital agriculture in addressing sustainability challenges. The study also reveals important knowledge gaps, particularly regarding the social dimensions influencing the diffusion and adoption of digital technologies in agriculture. A limited understanding of the factors affecting Quebec farmers’ adoption decisions remains a major barrier to maximizing the benefits of digital agriculture. Addressing these social and behavioral dimensions will be essential for accelerating the transition toward more sustainable, digitally enabled agricultural systems in Quebec.