Planning for education and training in digital agricultural technology in British Columbia

British Columbia's food system is experiencing a trend in digital agriculture which will impact agricultural activities and land use in the province. This model of agriculture requires computing and big data analysis skills. However, it remains unclear whether current food-focused academic institutions are approaching digital agriculture, and if so, whether concerns around equity, privacy, accessibility, and the barriers to digital agriculture adoption are considered. To better understand the status of education and training in digital agriculture, key informant interviews were conducted with 12 participants, including educators, policymakers, and private training consultants in the food and agricultural sector in British Columbia. While this study identified potentials around improving sustainability and collaboration through open access platforms, concerns were raised that digital agriculture is more likely to favour multi-national corporations and large-scale farms. Hence, educators should adopt an equity lens by considering the concerns of small and marginalized farmers in digital agriculture training.