Digital agricultural technologies for sustainable rural development: opportunities and barriers

The article examines the economic and technological potential of the digital environment and the state of the application of digital agricultural technologies for sustainable rural development, explains the visible and expected features of the “green agricultural economy”. The process of mastering and sustainable use of digital agricultural technologies does not meet the requirements of the “green economy”. The main reasons for this situation and the nature of the existing obstacles to sustainable development of rural areas have not been sufficiently studied. In this context, it is highly likely that the opportunities provided by digital technologies will be used more effectively to ensure sustainable rural development. There is a serious economic, social and technological need to determine the directions and means of realizing this potential. There is a need to look for ways to overcome the existing and anticipated obstacles to sustainable rural development. The purpose of the study is to identify potential opportunities and obstacles to the use of digital agricultural technologies for sustainable development of rural areas. By analyzing sociological surveys conducted among specialists, the economic and environmental requirements for digital agricultural technologies from the point of view of sustainable development of rural areas of Azerbaijan were clarified, opportunities for sustainable use of agricultural technologies for sustainable development of rural areas in the digital environment were identified. As a result, obstacles in the application of digital agricultural technologies for sustainable rural development were identified and some ways to overcome them were shown.