The Role of Digital Skills in the Digital Transformation of Agriculture – Evidence from the European Union

The article examines how digital skills influence the adoption of digital technologies in the agricultural sector across the EU. The study argues that the digital transformation of agriculture is crucial for achieving sustainable food production, environmental protection, and climate goals. Using Eurostat data and the Digital Skills Index, the research assesses the level of digital competence among individuals working in agriculture and compares it with other population groups.

The paper situates digitalisation within broader challenges facing global agriculture. Rising food demand and environmental pressures require the adoption of sustainable intensification and advanced technologies such as precision agriculture and digital monitoring systems. These technologies rely heavily on data collection, analysis, and automated decision-making, meaning that farmers must possess adequate digital skills to effectively implement them. Without these competencies, the benefits of digital agricultural technologies cannot be fully realised.

Empirical analysis shows that people working in agriculture have significantly lower digital skills than both rural and urban populations. In 2023 only about 31% of individuals employed in agriculture in the EU had at least basic digital skills, and this group was also more likely to be digitally excluded. At the same time, Internet access in EU households has increased substantially between 2007 and 2023, with the gap between rural and urban areas narrowing considerably. However, improved connectivity alone does not translate directly into higher digital competence.

The findings suggest that digital transformation in agriculture requires more than infrastructure development. Farmers often face barriers such as limited access to training, insufficient digital education tailored to agricultural needs, and the complexity of modern digital tools. The article therefore argues for integrated policy approaches combining broadband expansion with targeted education, training programmes, and agricultural advisory services to build the digital capabilities needed for sustainable agricultural development.