In this system, the farmer is no longer the primary decision-maker in choosing crops or farming methods. Instead, large corporations guide farmers and dictate what they should grow. These directives often focus on the most productive and profitable crops in global markets. Canadian agricultural expert Pat Mooney, who contributed to the report, stated that these companies are manipulating the global food system, warning of the dangers of this trend. He explained that major tech companies in collaboration with industrial agricultural firms tend to concentrate on a limited number of staple crops: corn, rice, wheat, soy, and potatoes. This could lead to the marginalization of many local and diverse crops. Mooney added that the recommendations of these companies are often based on their limited experience with specific crops. Over-reliance on multinational corporations operating from tech hubs like Silicon Valley may increase the fragility of the food system rather than strengthening it. Tech companies collect vast amounts of data from farmers using advanced tools and technologies, such as satellite sensors and drones. These technologies are used to monitor weather conditions, analyze soil health, and assess crop conditions. For instance, farmers in countries like Ethiopia might be advised to grow corn, as these companies have extensive expertise in its processing and pesticide use. As the food system becomes more globalized and complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to guarantee its stability and its ability to provide food safely. Mooney added that achieving food security should depend more on local systems, as globalized systems can be vulnerable to collapse during major crises. An expert from the Council of Expert Food System Advisors emphasized the importance of developing environmentally friendly farming practices that preserve the natural balance, instead of promoting large-scale industrial agriculture or monoculture, which often require large amounts of chemicals and fertilizers. Mooney warned that farmers may find themselves trapped within a complex global agricultural system where they are expected to buy seeds produced by major industrial corporations, as well as use machinery, technology, and chemical inputs manufactured in distant countries. However, Mooney believes these suggestions often focus on crops that serve corporate interests, forcing farmers to purchase specific seeds, as well as related equipment, fertilizers, and products. Co-chair of the Council of Expert Food System Advisors, Lim Li Ching, stated that the concept of 'algorithmic farming' is not necessarily what farmers want. He emphasized that true innovation in agriculture must emerge from farmers' knowledge, experience, and actual needs. Ching explained that any successful innovation must be grounded in the realities farmers face and should aim to empower them in their role as stewards of agricultural biodiversity. He added that the world needs agricultural innovations that promote genuine sustainability, enable farmers to make their own decisions, and are managed locally, respecting the specificity of each region. This data is then fed into artificial intelligence models and algorithms to analyze it and provide farmers with recommendations on the best crops to grow in their areas. These recommendations might suggest specific types of seeds suited to the soil moisture levels or environmental conditions in a particular region. This could lead to abandoning local crops that farmers have cultivated for generations, which are often better suited to local environments. The Canadian expert pointed out that the highly interconnected global food system has already proven its vulnerability to crises. Experts in food security have warned that tech companies and industrial agricultural firms are 'tampering' with the food system using artificial intelligence and algorithms. They believe this approach could undermine the traditional role of farmers in determining what crops are produced and what people consume worldwide. According to a report by the Council of Expert Food System Advisors, major tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, and Alibaba have begun to closely collaborate with industrial agricultural companies to influence the types of crops grown and the methods and technologies used in farming. The experts state that this model leads to a 'top-down' management approach in the agricultural sector. Events like the climate crisis or the war in Ukraine have demonstrated how susceptible this system is to global shocks.
