Digitalisation of Agriculture and Food Systems in ASEAN: A Preliminary Assessment for Enhanced Resilience and Sustainability

Digitalisation has emerged as a key driver of productivity, resilience, and sustainability in ASEAN's agriculture and food systems. However, achieving inclusive, region-wide digital transformation requires overcoming persistent barriers related to technology adoption, digital infrastructure, human capacity, and enabling policy frameworks. This study examines the adoption and utilisation of digital technologies across the agricultural value chains of eight ASEAN Member States – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Drawing on survey responses from 824 stakeholders, the study assesses the current use of digital technologies, identifies key constraints to wider adoption, and explores priorities for accelerating digital transformation. The findings indicate that inadequate digital infrastructure, limited digital literacy and technical capacity, high investment costs, and insufficient policy support continue to impede the uptake of digital technologies across the region. At the same time, respondents identified digital marketplaces, drones, Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI) as the technologies most likely to shape the future of ASEAN agriculture.

The report concludes with country-specific and regional policy recommendations to strengthen enabling policy and institutional environments, improve digital infrastructure and skills, and foster greater public–private collaboration to accelerate the digital transformation of ASEAN's agriculture and food systems.