Digital Agroecology: Bridging Traditional Ecological Wisdom with Precision Technologies for Food System Resilience

Digital agroecology represents the thoughtful integration of precision technologies with traditional agroecological practices to enhance sustainable food systems. This research theme explores how artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, data analytics, and precision agriculture can amplify core agroecological principles: biodiversity enhancement, soil health optimization, natural pest management, and ecosystem service provision while prioritizing farmer autonomy, social equity, and community resilience.The approach encompasses several key components. First, precision ecological monitoring uses sensor networks and AI to decode complex plant-soil-microbe interactions, optimize natural fertilization strategies, and enhance biological pest control. Second, data-driven biodiversity management employs drone mapping and machine learning to inform polyculture design and landscape-level ecosystem coordination. Third, participatory digital platforms democratize agroecological knowledge through mobile applications and decision support systems co-designed with farming communities, ensuring data sovereignty and equitable benefit distribution. Fourth, knowledge integration systems connect farmers with indigenous knowledge holders through respectful partnerships that maintain community ownership and provide fair compensation.This theme addresses critical foundations of ecological science by examining how emerging technologies can capture meaningful data on biodiversity-productivity relationships, soil carbon dynamics, and ecosystem services, while acknowledging current limitations in both sensor capabilities and ecological understanding. Research priorities include developing sensors to monitor soil microbial diversity, root communication, and nutrient cycling, thereby informing practical farming decisions.This theme specifically appeals to digital-native researchers concerned with environmental sustainability and social justice, offering opportunities to develop interdisciplinary approaches that bridge ecological science and technology through participatory research methods.Topics for SubmissionWe welcome contributions addressing:• Precision monitoring systems for soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services• AI and machine learning applications for ecological management and decision support• IoT sensor networks for real-time agroecological monitoring• Drone and remote sensing technologies for landscape-scale biodiversity assessment• Digital platforms for farmer knowledge exchange and community-based food systems• Blockchain and distributed technologies for local food networks and fair-trade systems• Participatory technology co-design with farming communities• Data sovereignty, privacy, and equitable benefit distribution frameworks• Integration of indigenous ecological knowledge with digital systems• Mobile applications and decision support tools for smallholder farmers• Ecological modeling of complex plant-soil-microbe interactions• Digital tools for coordinating ecosystem management across stakeholders• Technology assessment frameworks that prioritize social and ecological outcomes Topic editors: Shivani Garg, Pooja Arora, Dr.Swapnila Roy Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/73208/digital-agroecology-bridging-traditional-ecological-wisdom-with-precision-technologies-for-food-system-resilience