Table 4.
Key global digital public good policies driving agricultural digitization.
| Policy or initiative | Implementing agency/country | Type of digital public good | Agricultural application | Key features | Target beneficiaries | Year/period | Impact/expected outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGIAR Open Data and Open Tools | CGIAR (Global) | Open datasets, crop models (DSSAT, APSIM), geospatial layers | Climate smart advisories, crop modelling, risk management | FAIR data principles (Findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable), open-source models, global accessibility | Researchers, extension agencies | 2015-present | Improved research reproducibility and low-cost advisory innovation |
| Global Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) | United Nation (Global) | DPG registry, open-source governance | Scaling digital agri-tools globally | Certification framework, community validation | Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) innovators | 2019-present | Global collaboration, quality assurance for digital public-good solutions |
| USDA Open Agricultural Data Initiative | United States | Open datasets, weather and soil data, research outputs | Crop modelling, risk prediction, agronomic planning | Climate and soil databases, public repositories | Farmers, start-ups, researchers | 2018-present | Improved innovation and private-sector digital product development |
| FAO Digital Agriculture Strategy Framework | FAO (Global) | Open data standards, open-source tools for extension | Digital advisory, early warning, food security monitoring | Normative standards, open frameworks, e-extension tools | Governments, extension systems | 2019-present | Strengthened national digital ecosystems and improved advisory reach |
| World Bank Agriculture Observatory | World Bank | Open geospatial DPGs, dashboards, APIs | Climate-smart planning, monitoring, insurance | Geospatial layers, crop maps, risk dashboards | Governments, development agencies | 2021-present | Better evidence-based planning and climate risk management |
| Smart Africa Digital Agriculture Blueprint | African Union/Smart Africa Alliance | Open standards, open APIs, digital registries | Extension, digital markets, weather services | Interoperable digital ecosystems, farmer databases, innovation sandbox | African smallholders | 2020–2030 | Harmonized digital policies, scalable e-agriculture services |