Digitalisation of Livestock Farming in Flanders: Ammonia Emissions and Policy Challenges

Digitalisation in Flemish livestock farming aims to reduce ammonia emissions through sensor technology and stakeholder collaboration. Part of the EU DESIRA project, the study applies the STEEP framework to assess social, technological, environmental, economic, and political impacts, generating four scenarios including a crisis-driven positive outcome and a stagnation path. Key challenges include low farm incomes, data ownership issues, corporate control, scientific uncertainty, and insufficient policy continuity. Recommendations call for fair pricing, data governance frameworks, long-term environmental regulation, and digital skills development via lighthouse farms and networks. Conducted by ILVO in February 2022, the brief underscores the need for coordinated government action to support sustainable and equitable digital transformation in agriculture.