Digital innovations in climate-smart agriculture: a review of technologies for climate adaptation and resilience with implications for Sub-Saharan Africa
TL;DR
It is concluded that digital innovations are transformative tools for enhancing agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and food security, and strengthening digital infrastructure, policy support, financing mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives will be essential for scaling inclusive and sustainable digital climate-smart agriculture.
Abstract
Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural systems worldwide, particularly in developing regions where farming livelihoods are highly vulnerable to climatic shocks and environmental stresses. Digital innovations have emerged as critical enablers of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), offering new opportunities to enhance climate adaptation, resilience, and sustainable agricultural transformation. This study conducted a scoping review to systematically map and synthesize existing evidence on the role of digital technologies in supporting climate adaptation and resilience in agriculture. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework, literature was sourced from major databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, AGRIS, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. Eighteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The findings identified eight major categories of digital innovations: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Mobile-Based Advisory Services, Blockchain Technology, Big Data Analytics, and Integrated Digital Decision-Support Systems. These technologies contribute to climate adaptation and resilience through improved climate information services, precision agriculture, resource-use efficiency, climate-risk forecasting, environmental monitoring, extension service delivery, and resilient agricultural value chains. The review further revealed that institutional capacity, socioeconomic conditions, technological infrastructure, and policy frameworks significantly influence technology adoption and effectiveness. The study concludes that digital innovations are transformative tools for enhancing agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and food security. Strengthening digital infrastructure, policy support, financing mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives will be essential for scaling inclusive and sustainable digital climate-smart agriculture, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa.