Inclusive Digital Tools Project (ATDT)

Co-creation of knowledge is the process of bringing together the knowledge systems of different groups, recognizing that each party brings distinctive perspectives and that working together can produce better results. Co-creation is a continuous process in which those participating need to have real influence. If not, the power stays with the technology developers. 

Features of digital tools that support co-creation of knowledge, digital agency, and scaling of agroecology practices include elements that enable knowledge integration, two-way communication, inclusive access, and responsible use.

Resources: Digital agency framework to co-creation of agroecology practices | Co-creation applied to digital innovations for smallholder farmers: An example from Brazil | FarMoRe provides an inclusive digital solution to co-create agroecology at scale for rice production in Vietnam

The ATDT project developed and applied six principles for socially inclusive digital tools that emphasize engaging diverse farmers, use responsible design, co-creation of knowledge, equitable access, farmer agency, data rights, and social inclusion. The principles were developed to address concerns with the current digitalization of food systems and from work with farmers in Brazil and Vietnam.

Resources: Principles for climate change | Social inclusion of tools for agriculture | Critiques of digital tools for agriculture

We conducted expert interviews and a review of digital resources relevant to climate change and agroecology to identify exemplary features of digital tools. Overall, we found few digital tools with functions for agricultural technical advice and performance assessment related to agroecology and found limited climate change adaptation and mitigation information. However, many have components of agroecology (44 of 230). Of these 44:

• <20% of tools supported climate change action
• ~33% addressed 4 or fewer agroecology principles
• About half addressed whole-system design
• ~30% of tools included features for communication with tool users
• 25% had farmer-driven content such as agro-advisory videos recorded by farmers
• 43% had 2-way communication such as SMS, voice calling, or in-app communication

Related resources: Global digital tool database | Digital tools for climate change adaptation & mitigation | Brazil digital tool review | Vietnam digital tool review

Led by Solidaridad Latin America, ATDT supported the improved use of good agronomic practices and traceability tools for incentives to smallholders and recognition of their livestock production practices. The team worked in the Amazon agriculture frontier of the states of Pará and Mato Grosso, Brazil. With this purpose in mind, the Brazil team reviewed the inclusivity of existing tools, map and systematize knowledge on production practices, and influence tool access, design, and improvement to support agroecological transitions.

Solis, developed for technical assistance, emphasizes the human component by curating farmer-generated content through a social media-like interface. The tool combines top-down (expert-to-farmer) with bottom-up (farmer-to-expert) & peer-to-peer (farmer-to-farmer) communication channels to foster the co-creation of locally relevant agroecological practices.

A pilot ambassador program for youth is helping to drive content creation with plans to monetize the program for community leaders to incentivize quality content. However, funds must come from somewhere. While the app is free for farmers, it still must pay for itself. A fee-for-service model via Solidaridad Latin America’s Extension Solution platform sustains Solis and supports content curation. 

Resources: Review of tools | Brazil training material | Learnings from Brazil |  Co-design of digital tools in Brazil

Sustainability standards are prominent within Vietnam in higher-value crops, like coffee and cocoa. However, they are less prevalent in staple crops, like rice. To address this in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta region, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and local stakeholder partners, will support the development, design, and improvement of digital tools facilitating agroecological practices for rice farmers. The Vietnam team and IRRI will focus research on advanced farming packages that promote agroecological production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing farmers’ income.

FarMoRe is a farm management app designed for performance assessment. Through a rice GHG calculator, farmers and extension agents receive data on GHG emissions from practices over time. 

Integrated into the national system, RiceMoRe, a digital platforms providing near-real-time tracking and streamlined reporting across multiple management levels, FarMore uses a relevant set of metrics to provide scalable, data-driven benchmarking of improved rice practices. By embedding FarMoRe into government extension and carbon finance systems, the project demonstrated how digital tools can make performance scalable while maintaining farmer participation and ownership. 

Resources: Vietnam review of digital tools | Lessons from using digital tools in Vietnam |  Vietnam Training material | Digital co-creation in Vietnam

ATDT country teams co-designed two digital tools with farmers, Solis in Brazil for livestock and FarMoRe in Vietnam for rice, each demonstrating different approaches to integrating TA and PA while following agroecological principles and ensuring farmer engagement and long-term sustainability. 

Both tools emphasized two-way communication, peer exchange, and capacity building for farmers and intermediaries. FarMoRe provided quantitative assessments for GHG emissions, yield, and input efficiency, while Solis focused on qualitative peer learning through video and social platform engagement. The critical role of intermediaries in bridging digital and social gaps was revealed in both cases. Both tools increased farmer agency by facilitating in-person and virtual peer learning and communication among farmers, technical advisors and researchers–encouraging localized content creation and supporting participatory monitoring aligned with national and global sustainability indicators. 

These tools illustrate how digital platforms can support co-creation of sustainability practices through iterative design, training, and partnerships. 

Resources: Vietnam digital profile | Digital co-creation in Vietnam | Learnings from Brazil |  Co-design of digital tools in Brazil
Reports: Brazil baseline study | Vietnam baseline study | Brazil farmer workshops | Vietnam farmer workshops

Leveraging responsible hybrid collective intelligence, integrating the process of knowledge co-creation and data into digital tools supports the generation of local solutions to contribute to large-scale transitions to sustainable agriculture. Features of digital tools that support knowledge co-creation, digital agency, and scale agroecology practices, enable knowledge integration, two-way communication, inclusive access, and responsible use.

Therefore, a step-wise approach is needed to develop digital resources that enable farmers’ digital agency and support the scaling of agroecological practices. The addition of co-creation as a central focus to how we approach social inclusion results in the updated digital inclusion model in the figure below.

IMAGE CAPTION: A digital agency based framework for social inclusion showing the barriers to farmers’ participation in digital knowledge systems.

Exemplary Features: Digital tools for climate change adaptation & mitigation & Exemplary features of digital tools for agroecology

Supporting farmers’ digital agency and co-creation of knowledge requires intentional design choices that reduce digital barriers, elevate local knowledge, and ensure responsible, context-appropriate use of digital tools. Practical suggestions include:

• Work with intermediaries: Local advisors are essential to bridge digital gaps.
• Design for community fit: Build on existing dynamics, diversity, and capabilities.
• Plan for ethics: Identify risks early and prepare for unintended consequences.
• Keep tools simple: Prioritize usability and real value over complexity.
• Provide offline options: Offer versions that run with low power and connectivity.
• Adapt what exists: Strengthen and reuse good-fit tools rather than adding new ones.

Resources: Vietnam Training Material | Brazil Training Material | Digital agency framework to co-creation of agroecology practices

Digital tools are never stand-alone solutions. A stepwise, participatory process helps ensure they add real value to farmers and support the scaling of agroecological practices. The ATDT brief outlines the following approach for developing effective, inclusive digital resources:

Step 1. Define the problem with farmers: Identify who is affected and how.

Step 2. Set impact goals together: Focus on what outcomes matter most to farmers.

Step 3. Choose the right solution: Decide whether digital tools are needed and what else is required with farmer input.

Step 4. Align digital and human intelligence: Clarify roles for tools, intermediaries, and co-creation.

Resources: Digital agency framework to co-creation of agroecology practices