Platformisation of Rural Africa

When farming meets data: the promise and politics of African agri-tech

This interdisciplinary pilot project investigates the political economy of agricultural data in Sub-Saharan Africa. From mobile apps that connect farmers to markets, to digital credit and advisory platforms, agriculture is being rapidly transformed by data-driven technologies. Yet behind these promises lie crucial questions about data ownership, dependency, and control — questions that have received little empirical attention. By mapping how agricultural and farmer data move between local users, platforms, and global markets, the project explores how platformization and datafication are reshaping African agriculture, and what these shifts mean for equity, sovereignty, and the future of farming.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• Investigate data extraction and monetization - conduct the first systematic, interdisciplinary study on how agricultural platforms collect, process, and commodify farmer data. This includes analysing non-essential data practices and identifying third- party beneficiaries who profit from agricultural data within and beyond Africa.
• Investigate the influence of funding mechanisms and business models on decision-making about platform design and data practices by developers and implementers.
• Assess policy and regulatory implications – evaluate how platform-driven data economies influence farmers' financial autonomy, economic dependency, and exposure to surveillance and propose regulatory safeguards to protect farmer data rights.
• Advance interdisciplinary research – bridge technical, engineering, and critical social science perspectives to provide a holistic analysis of digital agriculture. By combining data science with political economy, the project will highlight digital platforms' dual role as development tools and mechanisms of economic dispossession.

CONNECT WITH US

We are keen to connect with practitioners, developers, policymakers, and farmers who are involved in the design, implementation, or everyday use of digital technologies in agriculture. Our project explores how agricultural apps and data platforms are transforming farming practices, livelihoods, and resource governance across sub-Saharan Africa. Between November 2025 and March 2026, our research team will be conducting interviews and collecting first-hand experiences from individuals and organizations working in this field.

If you are interested in sharing your perspective, or if your organization is engaged in digital agriculture initiatives, we would love to hear from you. Your insights will contribute to a better understanding of how digital infrastructures shape the future of agriculture — from local innovation to global policy.

This research is funded by the University of Manchester Research Institute Interdisciplinary Fund 2025.