{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135066"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135066","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Precision Agriculture and Its Influence on Agrarian Decision-Making","abstract":"The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, reshapes farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, prompting critical questions about the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests they serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they may reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research explores the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses, utilizing a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach. The first study investigates existing data-justice concerns in the context of data-driven PES systems by analyzing the lived experiences of farmers in this context. The second study examines Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) engagement with Decision Support Systems (DSSs) based on their Affinity for Technology Interaction (ATI). The third study explores how various stakeholders envision PA's role in sustainable agriculture, uncovering tensions between techno-optimistic visions and localized, justice-focused approaches grounded in ecological and cultural values. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. Consequently, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. This research advocates democratizing agricultural futures' vision and the technology development process through participatory design, inclusive governance, and justice-oriented policy interventions. It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures.","abstract_html":"The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, reshapes farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, prompting critical questions about the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests they serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they may reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research explores the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses, utilizing a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach. The first study investigates existing data-justice concerns in the context of data-driven PES systems by analyzing the lived experiences of farmers in this context. The second study examines Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) engagement with Decision Support Systems (DSSs) based on their Affinity for Technology Interaction (ATI). The third study explores how various stakeholders envision PA's role in sustainable agriculture, uncovering tensions between techno-optimistic visions and localized, justice-focused approaches grounded in ecological and cultural values. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. Consequently, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. This research advocates democratizing agricultural futures' vision and the technology development process through participatory design, inclusive governance, and justice-oriented policy interventions. It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mitra, Shreya"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":"Agricultural and Extension Education","degree_department":"Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Archibald, Thomas Greig","Gardezi, Syed Maaz Hassaan"],"committee_members":["Gill, Bikrum Singh","Friedel, Curtis R."],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-06-04","date_published":"2025-06-04","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:47Z","subjects":["Precision Agriculture","Data Justice","Payment for Ecosystem Services","Decision Support Systems","Certified Crop Advisors","Foresight","Socio-technical Imaginaries; Farmers","Responsible Research and Innovation","Inclusion","Anticipation","Sustainability"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:42833"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:42833","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/135066","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Archibald, Thomas Greig","Gardezi, Syed Maaz Hassaan"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Gill, Bikrum Singh","Friedel, Curtis R."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mitra, Shreya"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-06-05T08:02:32Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-06-05T08:02:32Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-06-04"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Agricultural and Extension Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Precision Agriculture","Data Justice","Payment for Ecosystem Services","Decision Support Systems","Certified Crop Advisors","Foresight","Socio-technical Imaginaries; Farmers","Responsible Research and Innovation","Inclusion","Anticipation","Sustainability"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:42833"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/135066"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, reshapes farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, prompting critical questions about the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests they serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they may reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research explores the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses, utilizing a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach. The first study investigates existing data-justice concerns in the context of data-driven PES systems by analyzing the lived experiences of farmers in this context. The second study examines Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) engagement with Decision Support Systems (DSSs) based on their Affinity for Technology Interaction (ATI). The third study explores how various stakeholders envision PA's role in sustainable agriculture, uncovering tensions between techno-optimistic visions and localized, justice-focused approaches grounded in ecological and cultural values. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. Consequently, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. This research advocates democratizing agricultural futures' vision and the technology development process through participatory design, inclusive governance, and justice-oriented policy interventions. It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, is reshaping farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, necessitating critical reflection on the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests these tools serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research takes a forward-thinking and inclusive approach while exploring the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses. The first study explores existing data justice concerns in the context of data-driven Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) by analyzing farmers' lived experiences in this context. The second study examines how Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) interact with agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS), based on their affinity for technology interaction, while making agricultural decisions. The third study explores how various stakeholders across the agricultural community envision the role of PA in creating a sustainable future in agriculture. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. As a result, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. 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It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Precision Agriculture and Its Influence on Agrarian Decision-Making"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Archibald, Thomas Greig","Gardezi, Syed Maaz Hassaan"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Gill, Bikrum Singh","Friedel, Curtis R."],"dc:contributor.department":["Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education"],"dc:creator":["Mitra, Shreya"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-06-05T08:02:32Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-06-05T08:02:32Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-06-04"],"dc:description.abstract":["The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, reshapes farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, prompting critical questions about the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests they serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they may reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research explores the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses, utilizing a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach. The first study investigates existing data-justice concerns in the context of data-driven PES systems by analyzing the lived experiences of farmers in this context. The second study examines Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) engagement with Decision Support Systems (DSSs) based on their Affinity for Technology Interaction (ATI). The third study explores how various stakeholders envision PA's role in sustainable agriculture, uncovering tensions between techno-optimistic visions and localized, justice-focused approaches grounded in ecological and cultural values. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. Consequently, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. This research advocates democratizing agricultural futures' vision and the technology development process through participatory design, inclusive governance, and justice-oriented policy interventions. It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["The rapid digitalization of agriculture, including the rise of Precision Agriculture (PA) tools, is reshaping farming practices, knowledge systems, and decision-making processes, necessitating critical reflection on the values and ethics behind how these technologies are developed, deployed, and used. Key concerns include whose interests these tools serve, who is included or excluded from their design, and how they reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics. This research takes a forward-thinking and inclusive approach while exploring the impact of PA technologies on agricultural decision-making through three distinct study focuses. The first study explores existing data justice concerns in the context of data-driven Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) by analyzing farmers' lived experiences in this context. The second study examines how Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) interact with agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS), based on their affinity for technology interaction, while making agricultural decisions. The third study explores how various stakeholders across the agricultural community envision the role of PA in creating a sustainable future in agriculture. Collectively, the findings reveal that the current digital agriculture system is top-down, driven by profit-seeking, power-concentrated corporations, and shaped by techno-optimistic visions, thereby widening the gap between technology developers and end users. As a result, the broader promise of serving the public good and contributing to a sustainable future of agriculture is undermined. This research advocates democratizing the vision of agricultural futures and the technology development process through participatory design, inclusive governance, and justice-oriented policy interventions. It urges that agricultural technologies be reclaimed as public goods designed to promote sustainable, equitable, and socially responsible agricultural futures."],"dc:description.degree":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:42833"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/135066"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Precision Agriculture","Data Justice","Payment for Ecosystem Services","Decision Support Systems","Certified Crop Advisors","Foresight","Socio-technical Imaginaries; Farmers","Responsible Research and Innovation","Inclusion","Anticipation","Sustainability"],"dc:title":["Precision Agriculture and Its Influence on Agrarian Decision-Making"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Agricultural and Extension Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:47Z"}